The newly-formed West Cumbria Development side notched up their first win on a visit to Newcastle Thunder’s Kingston Park.
They took on and defeated Thunder’s Under-16’s Academy Development side 32-16 in a thrilling battle.
It was a contest that ebbed and flowed and West Cumbria had some of the best young players in the county on show.
Six clubs were represented on the day with Wath Brow Hornets, Hensingham, Lowca, Seaton Rangers, Kells and Maryport all contributing to the eighteen man squad,
It was never going to be an easy win and whilst the weather forecast had been poor, Newcastle was very windy, cold but surprisingly dry.
Led by Kell’s Corey Chambers, captain on the day and an influential playmaker all match, the opening minutes saw both teams looking to gain the upper hand, and it was the Cumbrians who took the lead when Hensingham’s Arben Pervizaj powered through three Newcastle defenders to force his way over the try line.
West Cumbria followed this up with the first of two tries from Wath Brow’s Tom Chambers who made substantial yards and cleverly spotted a way through the Newcastle defence to twist his way over.
Thunder pulled a try back, but were now playing catch up as further tries from Wath Brow’s Ben McCarron; Chambers with his second, and a final try on the hooter from Hensingham’s Danny Stables kept West Cumbria’s in front all the match.
Despite three more tries in reply from Newcastle, the Cumbrian team’s battling efforts left them nicely clear at the finish.
The goal-kicking duties were shared between Elliott Hodgson (Lowca) and Alex Woodhall (Maryport).
After the match, coach John Stables said: “The lads were a credit to their amateur clubs with six represented in total.
“A massive ‘thank you’ should go to Lee Crooks of Hull FC and the backroom team at Whitehaven RLFC for starting what is hopefully a prestigious pathway with a youth professional rugby partnership which finally gives talented young lads based in West Cumbria the chance to pursue a career in professional rugby league.”
The West Cumbria squad was: A. Johnstone, L. Richardson, T. Chambers, A. Frew, O. Cordin, E. Hodgson, D. Stables, A. Pervizaj, B. Worthington, C. Chambers (capt), C. Rickerby, B. Coulson, A. Cox, A. Kirkby, B. Clifford, B. McCarron, J. Fitzwilliam, A. Woodhall.
The Development squad should have followed up with a home game tomorrow night at the LEL Stadium against Hull FC.
But the club say the match has been postponed to protect the pitch, and give it a chance to be ready for the next home game a week on Sunday following the spate of bad weather.
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