When Ambleside Centurions re-entered the Cumbria Counties League just 14 months ago never in their wildest dreams did they think they would complete a hat trick of consecutive league victories over local rivals Windermere.
Having completed the double over Windermere last season Ambleside made it three in a row when they won the latest clash 34-29.
They had made the short trip knowing that old war horse, Windermere captain Danny Harrison would have his team fighting fit and thirsting for revenge.
Straight from the kick off no quarter was asked or given by either side with the tackles flying in so hard it was making the spectators shudder in the stands.
Following multiple phases of play Steven Tagg crashed over from short range in front of the posts for Ambleside but Cameron Penistone, missed the conversion.
The Ambleside backs were looking good with crisp handling and attractive rugby that started to carve the Windermere backs to pieces.
It resulted in Greg Tebbett going over in the corner and Penistone converting from out wide.
Windermere managed to finally get inside the Ambleside 22 but then a long looping pass was intercepted by Ambleside captain and centre Sean Tebbett who raced the full length of the pitch to score under the posts for Penistone to convert.
Unfortunately for Penistone, who had just recovered from a bout of Covid, was obviously in great discomfort and that was his last contribution to the action and he was replaced by Matty Kaye on the wing.
Ambleside made a complete mess of collecting the restart and conceded a knock-on which resulted in a scrum to Windermere.
Having won the scrum and set up a nice driving maul the Windermere number eight flopped over the line to pull back five points.
Normal service was then resumed, and Ambleside spun the ball wide bringing the full back into the line as the extra man for coach Kaye to crash over in the corner.
Kaye, who had landed a penalty, put over the conversion.
The final act of the first half was a sign of things to come in the second half.
Two Ambleside forwards took an outrageous dummy from Windermere fly half Bertie Hodgson who crashed over to take the half time score, after the successful conversion, to 29-12.
If ever a game lived up to the title of a game of two halves this, was it.
At half time Ambleside lost Tagg to injury and Windermere brought on their mercurial scrum half and vice-captain Liam Mckinnon who started to spark the Windermere backs to life with good accurate bullet like passes to his fly half every time Windermere won any ball.
This gave Hodgson just the little bit more time he needed to work his magic off his favoured right foot either from the boot or with that big inside step he likes to use and throw defenders off in the wrong direction.
Ambleside quickly racked up two yellow cards at the start of the half with Carr and Owen spending 10 minutes each in the sin bin and Rhys leaving the field with blood streaming from a bad cut to the cranium.
Windermere literally smelt blood and carried on with the original game plan they started with – slow ball and plenty of kicking to touch to push Ambleside back into their own half.
Two quick Windermere tries by Mckinnon and Harrison while Ambleside were down to 14 men brought the score back to 29 to 24 before the resurgent Ambleside pack containing Hogg, Rankin, and Carr steadied the ship and the game evened out but the pace did not drop.
At times like this, class always tends to shine and big Jack Akrigg had had enough.
A big lad for a fly half he takes at least half a forward pack to stop him when he’s on the charge and he was not taking no for an answer as he crashed over the line to take the score to 34-24 but coach Kaye missed the kick from in front of the posts.
Windermere came back again and a missed tackle by some tired Ambleside forwards allowed Chaplow to score out wide for Windermere but yet again the kick was missed, meaning as the game entered it’s last five minutes nerves began to fray on both sides.
From the restart Akrigg took control of his forwards, putting them through multiple phases of play, countless carries and rucks until Windermere in their frustration went over the top of the ruck.
That penalty ended the game as Akrigg kicked the ball dead to the delight of the Ambleside players, and supporters.
Man of the match for Windermere was ex-Ambleside player Francisco Cruz Hall and for Ambleside it was Mr Consistent team captain Sean Tebbett.
Ambleside coach Matty Kaye said: “I can’t believe we have just won three league games on the bounce against Windermere in 14 months.
“It’s like a dream to think in March we go for the double/double which has never been done before in over 100 years of this fixture so we have plenty to motivate and inspire us to push on with our club motto of strength and honour.”
