The amount of young rugby talent that Cumbria is blessed with at the moment was highlighted by a weekend Colts clash at Keswick.
The Ospreys – a mix of players from Keswick and Cockermouth – took on Wigton at Davidson Park with the visitors emerging deserved 35-17 winners after a cracking game.
On their first visit to the Lakes’ ground, Wigton were immediately put under pressure as Ospreys’ powerful forward pack stamped their authority with brute force and uncompromising defence.
For long periods of the opening exchanges, Ospreys dominated territory and looked certain to crash over for the opening score but Wigton’s resilience and tenacity turned the tide.
Against the run of play their French back row forward Ernest Bordenave powered over from close range to the delight of his team-mates. Ellis Holliday added the conversion.
Barely three minutes later, the visitors struck again in stunning fashion. Holliday showed a clean pair of heels, sprinting 80 metres to touch down under the posts and with Holliday’s conversion it extended the lead to 14-0.
Ospreys, however, refused to fold. Just before the interval, Oliver Green cut through Wigton’s defence to get his side on the scoreboard and Joe Tyson’s conversion meant it was 14-7 to Wigton at half-time.
Ospreys began the second half with renewed intent, kicking deep into Wigton’s 22 and applying early pressure.
Wigton’s forwards, however, absorbed the challenge with two powerful carries into contact before releasing their talented back line.
From his own 30-yard line, Fraser Williamson timed his run perfectly, slicing into the attack, fending off his opposite number, and drawing the cover before sending a superb pass to Alfie Warwick who sprinted home from 25 yards.
Momentum firmly swung Wigton’s way, and soon after, Logan Jamieson crossed the whitewash to make it 28-7. Both tries had been converted by Flynn Manihera.
Despite both sides battling hard until the final whistle, Wigton’s class ultimately shone through. Ospreys rallied with two bulldozing unconverted tries.
Owen Ackerly finally smashed his way over for a solo effort. Moments later, skipper Jamie Black made a brilliant break from the base of the scrum to set up vice-captain Max Carr.
Wigton responded once more, sealing the contest with a final score by Jamieson, converted by Manihera again to leave them clear by 18 points.
It had been a high-calibre match, with both sides displaying outstanding skillsets, making it a wonderful spectacle for all on a wet and windy afternoon.
Both teams were well-organised and committed, providing plenty of entertainment despite the difficult conditions.
