In their first home game of the season in Counties 1 Cumbria, Cockermouth Wasps ran riot against Hawcoat Park to earn a 49-3 victory, writes Ollie Swain.
Hawcoat Park had lost both previous away fixtures but were coming off a comfortable victory over Workington the week before.
Cockermouth, had lost their only fixture against Egremont in a tight game two weeks ago which gave them time to work on areas of their game they felt needed to be improved.
Promising young fly-half Daniel Woodcock felt they needed to work on their game management and kicking game which he thought had improved in training.
Along with Woodcock, winger Frazer Murray was making his home debut and at 17, they are two products of Cockermouth’s youth system, having played for the club since they were four.
From the start Cockermouth looked to move the ball quickly and despite the wet conditions, they were able to gain metres through a string of penalties to apply pressure deep in Hawcoat’s half.
Despite this, Hawcoat were able to break the Cockermouth line and advance to open the scoring against the run of play.
The opening points came from the boot of fly half Benjamin Platt who landed a penalty.
Cockermouth hit straight back and the combination of hard-earned turnover and well worked phases was rewarded with a try for hooker James Hunter, converted by Woodcock.
Continuing to dominate Cockermouth were almost in again. From a line-out, James Sewell latched onto a short pass from Woodcock and burst through a tight gap.
The ball was spun wide with fast and accurate hands before the attack was thwarted by the hard-working, scrambling defence of Hawcoat.
Soon after, however, their defence conceded another penalty and with conditions worsening Cockermouth opted for the three points and Woodcock obliged.
After that opening quarter Cockermouth held a 10-3 advantage but the period up to half-time was plagued with handling errors as a result of the torrential downpour.
Despite attempts made to gain ground, both teams struggled to advance with the ball in hand due to the conditions and they squandered opportunities.
Cockermouth had opportunities from a number of penalties but were unable to add to their points tally.
The only chance for Hawcoat, amid a Cockermouth-dominated sequence, was also wasted as a result of further handling errors.
However, by managing to build persistent phases through keeping the ball close with simple rugby and playing to the conditions, Cockermouth were eventually rewarded with a penalty right in front of the sticks and Woodcock made it 13-3 at the break.
Cockermouth brought on both Ollie Gray and the experienced Ian McDowell for the second-half.
Straight away, Cockermouth applied a strong kick and chase from the re-start which resulted in a turn-over from a hurried kick by the Hawcoat Park full-back.
With the chance for an early try, Gray carried a strong drive from the back of a scrum. The team built on this with fast and aggressive phases ultimately resulting in Sewell finishing easily in the corner.
From then on Cockermouth had the bit between their teeth.
Playing with intensity and intent, they made a break straight from kick off. Players streamed forward in support of Sewell, who off-loaded to Ben Irving.
After shaking-off two players Irving off-loaded to Alex Butterfield who powered over to score and Woodcock converted.
Building from this, Cockermouth scored again from a powerful scrum.
Woodcock gathered the ball and quickly re-located to the blind side where he bravely bundled through to score another for the Wasps.
Hawcoat somehow managed to build some momentum of their own but Cockermouth absorbed the pressure to cope really well.
Woodcock cleared well and the home side forced another turn-over, before some scrappy play ended with a Cockermouth line-out.
Following a strong maul and drive the ball was picked-up by McDowell to score.
From a creative kick-off the ball was placed deep into the Hawcoat half where heavy pressure forced a five metre scrum to Cockermouth.
Another strong drive produced a repeat of his earlier effort as McDowell scooped up the ball and scored again. Woodcock landed a fine touchline conversion.
Despite their best efforts, Hawcoat were constantly thwarted by a stubborn Cockermouth defence and the last score of the game went to the home side.
It came from Greg Vickers who touched down in the corner after a sweeping move across the pitch and Woodcock added the extras.
