Cockermouth Wasps travelled to Bleach Green in Egremont on a cold but fine winter afternoon with several short notice changes giving the squad a youthful profile.
Egremont attacked from the kick-off and after a scrum in front of the Wasps posts their No 8 went over for a converted try. 7-0 after 2 mins
At 6 mins Egremont were awarded a penalty for offside on the 22 line and converted to make the score 10-0
Wasps were awarded a penalty after an excellent scrum and backs move, Jake Moore converting. 10-3.
With 12 minutes gone, Moore kicked long into space, Wasps mauled the ball away and Lewis Bancroft burst through to score making the score 10-8. At this point Wasps had the upper hand at scrum time.
Egremont tried a backs move from their line out; Wasps intercepted and Thomas Nixon ran through from his own half to score under the posts , converted by Jake 10-15.
Wasps confused their scrum dominance with a strike against the head. At 31 minutes the excellent Egremont No 8 went through and ran across behind the try line to score under the posts, converted to make the score 17-15.
Wasps backs and forwards combined with Finn Reed prominent to attack down the right, Egremont just managed to tap the ball into touch. Just before half time Alex Woodall was penalised and yellow carded.
Egremont then scored an unconverted try out wide making the score 22-15 at half time.
A minute into the second half, Moore scored and converted after Luke Armstrong run and pass into available space. 22-22.
Egremont then had a spell of pressure on the Wasps line, repelled by strong tackling with Finn Reed, Ollie Swain and Will Tyson prominent.
10 mins into the half after, unusually, Wasps lost a scrum against the head Egremont scored a converted try 29-22. Both sides then attacked, defended ell with end to end play.
Egremont were given a yellow card, Wasps ran the penalty, ran a follow on penalty, moved the ball left to right and Moore scored out wide, himself adding the extras to draw level at 28 mins. 29-29.
Wasps ball retention and forward play was soaking up the Egremont defence which eventually led to a penalty, at 33 mins, converted by Moore. 29-32
Egremont continued to look for a winning score in the final minutes and Wasps soaked up the pressure and continued their own forward drives going for a hard fought for away win.
The final score was 29-32.
An excellent game with ebb and flow for the full 80 minutes. Wasps youthful team, well marshalled with tactical interchanges by coach Reed and his staff, did not take a step back in the face of a tough Egremont side.
MOM Jake Moore
