St Benedict’s and Cockermouth served up a seriously good contest in Counties 1 Cumbria with the Whitehaven side eventually taking the points 24-19.
Wasps fielded a much-changed team due to injuries and travel demonstrating the benefit of the larger squad.
Early on the Wasps forwards produced excellent driving runs with Alex Butterfield prominent.
From a resulting line-out and blindside move Will Nixon burst through to score in the corner, with Ethan Cross converting.
Benny’s responded well and when they spun the ball from a penalty Kurt Maudling went in for the try and Ross Gainford’s conversion put them level.
On the half hour mark Benny’s took the lead from good attacking play had resulted in a 15 metre scrum. From there they ran the ball across the backs with Declan McKenna touching down. Gainford converted.
Tempers became a little frayed close to half-time and in the last-minute Benny’s had a man yellow-carded.
They had a second played sin-binned early in the second half but still held their 14-7 lead.
Then when Wasps conceded a penalty in front of the posts for holding on Gainford stretched the advantage with the successful kick.
Wasps then produced several attacking phases with Benny’s eventually ripping the ball and kicking deep before being penalised for crossing.
Early into the last quarter a Wasps line-out move saw Johnny Ostle burst away and a rapid backs handling move saw Fraser Murray score an unconverted try in the corner.
It was now nip and tuck with both sides competing hard. Benny’s missed a penalty, but a few minutes later their pressure told.
The Wasps defence was stretched and Phil Flavell got over for a third home try which Gainford converted.
A few minutes before the final whistle Ollie Swain, whose box-kicking had been notable, broke through and scored an excellent solo try from 65 metres. Cross converted.
Benny’s had used their kicking game to great effect but the Wasps competed right to the end, pushing their hosts all the way.
Full back Ethan Cross was Cockermouth’s man of the match while scrum half Aidan Pirie got the nod for Benny’s.
