Cockermouth produced a strong second-half performance to beat Keswick 2nds 55-11 at Strawberry How.
With no scheduled fixture in Counties 1 Cumbria on opening day and Aspatria 2nds only able to field ten players last week, it was really the Wasps first game of the season.
The weather was kind with sunshine, a dry ball and a slight breeze – conditions calling for an open and entertaining game.
In actual fact the players didn’t disappoint, with very little kicking and both sides attacking at every opportunity.
With the wind behind them Keswick controlled the very early encounters, with concerted forward drives, but the home defence held tight, denying the visitors a score.
It was the Wasps who got on the scoreboard first with a well-worked move in the backs, orchestrated by fly half Luke Armstrong, which enabled left wing Greg Vickers to take advantage of an overlap to get the first score of the game. Armstrong added the extras.
Vickers then followed-up with an unconverted try before Keswick hit back with a try from Jake Winter and two penalties from Steve Holloway. After half-an-hour the game was delicately poised at 12-11 to the hosts.
Before the break, however, Cockermouth extended their lead when Finn Reed burst through try for an unconverted try. It had been a very entertaining and competitive first half.
The second half, however, saw Wasps utilising a very strong bench and continuing to play entertaining rugby.
Jamie Preston , at fly-half, controlled the game well and linking well with centre Jake Moore, pressurised the Keswick defence. Joe Palmer was moved to the left wing and made several rapid runs, out-pacing the Keswick defence.
Cockermouth’s second half tries came from Moore, Reed (on the back of excellent scrummaging), Spencer Fulton, Palmer (after fine work from Olly Gray at outside centre), ubiquitous openside flanker Ben Irvine and Armstrong, who also added four conversions.
Cockermouth’s man of the match was dynamic scrum-half Ollie Swain while for Keswick, Mark Trow was outstanding in the pack.
