Back in competitive action after two years Cumbria were far too strong for Nigeria in their match at Barrow.
It finished 70-6 as Cumbria dominated the contest from start to finish in relentless fashion in front of 1,475 fans.
It was certainly a bitterly cold afternoon at the Northern Competition Stadium but Cumbria’s performance certainly warmed up the fans.
It didn’t take long for Cumbria to go ahead, scoring inside the first five minutes.
Barrow’s Luke Broadbent was on the end of a superb pass from Workington’s Jake Carter to go over for the opening try. Carter converted.
Cumbria were almost in straight away but Ellis Gillam was halted by a superb tackle from Mike Ogulago.
Both sides seemed to struggle for yardage on an increasingly cut up pitch until Ellis Archer crashed over for an unconverted try.
Cumbria followed-up quickly as Carter and Jordan Burns linked smartly and a kick through was gathered by Ellison Holgate who finished off with the third try which Carter improved.
It was 16-0 inside 11 minutes and it was already looking like a long afternoon for Nigeria.
Three minutes later Cumbria were over again after Carter and Curtis Teare linked well before releasing Shane Toal who raced 30 metres to score besides the posts. Carter added the extras.
Nigeria had their best spell after 18 minutes when Town’s Rio Corkill went close to opening their account.
But Cumbria sprung from defence to attack with great effect as Tom Walker and Stevie Scholey helped to see Archer in for his second try.
That ushered in a quiet spell with both sides making errors in the heavy underfoot conditions.
Five minutes before half-time Cumbria scored again when Teare crashed over 10 metres in from touch and Carter nailed the kick.
There was even time for one more try before the break, and it was the best of the half.
Luke Creswell was the scorer after Walker, Scholey and Burns had linked up for a length of the pitch move and take a 38-0 lead into the dressing room.
Cumbria started the second half as they had ended the first with Carter going over after some elusive footwork and finally wrestling his way over under the posts, adding the conversion for 44-0.
Cumbria were soon in again as Archer and Broadbent combined to put in Teare for an unconverted try.
Nigeria were almost over for a try but Cumbria’s defence held firm with Holgate in particular covering well.
Cumbria forced a drop-out on the next set as Carter kicked deep and Broadbent superbly caught his man behind his own line.
Holgate forced a second drop-out and the pressure eventually told when Connor Holliday strolled through a huge gap to score. Carter’s conversion made it 54-0.
The game again began scrappy around the hour mark with both sides making mistakes, particularly Cumbria as they looked to force the pass.
Cumbria crossed once again on 65 minutes as Brad Singleton smashed a hole through the defence to put Creswell in for a try which Carter converted.
Cumbria went back to back as Toal sent Barrow team-mate Creswell in again for Carter to add another conversion.
Perhaps the biggest cheer of the afternoon followed Nigeria’s try, which their spirited if outclassed performance deserved.
On 70 minutes Muzzi Mustapha of Doncaster, a player with Super League experience, crashed over to score and Corkill added the conversion.
But the last word went to Cumbria as Broadbent scored an unconverted try.
