Cockermouth moved through their first round game in the County Colts Cup with a 22-0 win at Wigton.
The tie was played ahead of the Counties 1 Cumbria clash between the two clubs at Lowmoor Road.
Cockermouth travelled in the knowledge they would be in for a tough, physical game and as predicted the hosts came out firing from the off.
Indeed for the first 20 minutes or so the game was played mainly in the Cockermouth half, although significantly Wigton failed to score.
The visitors defended well and stayed patient and started to gain ascendency from a quick ruck on the left-hand side of the field.
They launched an attack through the backs with Will Hetherington finding a gap to beat the Wigton defence and run in the opening try from half-way.
Just before half-time the Cockermouth forwards worked well into the home 22, playing off the back of rucks and Leuan Jennings dived over for the second try.
Knowing that Wigton would come back hard the half-time team talk for Cockermouth revolved around maintaining energy levels and sticking to the game plan.
Ten minutes into the second half Cockermouth had a scrum on the right side of the pitch just outside the 22.
Number eight Finley Reed picked-up from the base of the scrum, hit the blindside where he handed off a couple of defenders before scoring the third try.
Wigton responded well but the Cockermouth defence was spot on with all the players working hard for one another.
Just over ten minutes from the end Cockermouth had a player yellow carded for a high tackle.
They still held their 15-0 lead, though, and a few minutes from the end the Cockermouth backs launched an attack and fast hands took them into the Wigton 22.
The forwards supported the backs at the breakdown controlling the ruck when Lewis Bancroft picked up and bulldozed his way to the try line to score the fourth try which was converted by Callum Fox.
The score-line does not reflect the game as Wigton battled to the final whistle, producing some excellent backs and forwards play of their own, and were physical in all aspects of their play.
