A Gofundme page has been set up to help Cockermouth Wasps achieve their dream and reach a Twickenham final.
The Cumbrians are just one match away from a Papa John’s Community final – but that’s the snag. The semi-final is in Essex which means a long trip and an overnight stay.
Oliver Gray, who started the season as second team captain and won his place in the first team at the turn of the New Year, has launched the fund hoping to raise £5,000.
The Cockermouth players are already contributing to the trip but anything raised will go towards the cost of the coach to Harlow and the Hotel stay on Friday night. They will return after the game on Saturday.
Oliver said: The downside to the cup run is the growing costs involved. The Goole trip cost over £1,000 just to get the boys on the field for kick-off.
“Our semi-final has drawn us away to Harlow in Essex. The cost of this trip is estimated to be triple at least, Plus, if successful, three weeks later we would return to London to play at Twickenham.
“So in total, our success in the cup could approach £8,000 in the space of six weeks. As an amateur club, this is a huge burden but also a huge opportunity for the club to represent Cumbria at the home of English rugby.
“The funds raised, if we hit our target, wouldn’t actually cover all of our costs but would ease the pressure on the club, especially with us being promoted next year and facing 7-8 away games in a season.”
Cockermouth have already beaten two champions – West Hartlepool who won the Durham/Northumberland 1 League title and on Saturday they defeated Goole, winners of the Yorkshire 1 League.
Those two magnificent victories have earned the Wasps a semi-final tilt against the Essex 1 champions Harlow who won all 22 League games and on Saturday were 61-12 winners at Loughborough.
The other semi-final on Saturday is between Old Alleyians, the Counties 1 Kent champions and Chobham, winners of Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.
So not only are Cockermouth flying the flag for Cumbria they are doing their bit for the north as the other three clubs left in the competition are from Essex, Kent and Surrey.
The RFU introduced various sections of the Papa John’s Community competition to make-up fixtures for a reduction in league games. Although there have been a number of walk-overs and withdrawals the competition has been embraced by a lot of clubs, particularly Cockermouth.
They finished runners-up to Upper Eden in Counties 1 Cumbria but then knocked them out of the Papa John’s and have gone on to represent the county in impressive fashion.
“After beating two classy League champions in West Hartlepool and Goole we are looking forward to a new challenge in the south,” said head coach Jeff Clare.
Latest amount raised towards the £5,000 target was £1,700.
To donate, visit https://gofund.me/ebf49569
