Ten Cumbrians were involved with Newcastle Falcons Under-16s Academy at the weekend in a match with a touring Australian side.
The New South Wales Raptors are a Select side with some powerful players but the Falcons emerged the winners 17-0.
As well as the 10 in the match day squad there are 15 Cumbrians in the age group training squad of 40 which represents the highest number of representatives in recent memory and is a testament to the standard of youth rugby in Cumbria at the moment.
From the West Cumbria Development Player Pathway are Jamie Black, Ashton Quigley, Owen Ackerley, Ollie Green, Alfie Warwick, Jake Anderson and Nathan Rickerby.
The Ospreys (Cockermouth/Keswick) have Josh Doran; Charlie Dineen, Zac Dodds, Tommy Scanlan and Theo Stephenson from Kendal/Kirkby Lonsdale; Olly Newton of Penrith and Wigton’s Ellis Holliday.
The Falcons started brightly against their Australian visitors and following a scrum they moved the ball wide where good support play saw them score the opening try which was converted off the touchline.
Only two minutes had been played but any thoughts of an easy game quickly evaporated as the Raptors got into the game. They had plenty of possession but struggled to create attacking opportunities due to quick line speed and physical defence from the Falcons.
Whenever the Falcons were in possession they tried injecting pace into the game and moved the ball into space but sometimes forced the pass too much.
They still led 7-0 at the break when changes were made by both teams but the second half started like the first.
Following a knock-on from the restart the Falcons were awarded a scrum in an attacking position and moved the ball wide to score an unconverted try in the corner.
The half followed a similar pattern with the Raptors enjoying good possession and used their big ball-carriers to try and punch holes but were met with consistently solid defence.
Indeed it was from that committed defence that the Falcons scored again after winning turn-over ball. They moved the ball well and some excellent support play saw them score again in the corner.
Newcastle Falcons U16s: 15 Alfie Warwick, 14 Louis Myers-Lewis, 13 Ajay Edwards, 12 Matt Dunn, 11 Jonny Douglas, 10 Charlie Dinneen, 9 Joe Syson; 1 Nathan Rickerby, 2 Owen Ackerley, 3 Myles Alder, 4 Ashton Quigley, 5 Dom Henderson, 6 Charlie Evans, 7 Euan Oakes, 8 Will Graham.
Replacements: 16 Theo Stephenson, 17 Spencer Moore, 18 Robbie Simpson-Stoves, 19 Jamie Black, 20 Toby Somersall, 21 Tommy Scanlan, 22 Kian Ameer-Beg, 23 Oliver Green, 24 Jake Anderson, 25 Sam Owens, 26 Luca Barrass-Robson.
Scorers – Tries: Joe Syson, Toby Somersall, Robbie Simpson-Stoves. Conversions: Ajay Edwards.
