In a closely-fought clash in Counties 1 Cumbria, Cockermouth won their home game with neighbours Keswick 36-22.
The visitors had taken an early lead from a penalty on two minutes by Steve Holloway.
Following a Wasps line-out on half way after six minutes, Will Nixon burst through in the middle and helped on by Oli Gray, the ball was moved quickly right to Alex Butterfield. He ran through, evading several defenders to dot down near the posts and Jake Moore converted.
Then the second of consecutive penalties to Keswick was converted by Holloway towards the end of the first quarter.
Wasps responded well and produced an excellent maul to drive over the Keswick line and score through Oli Gray. Again it was converted by Moore.
Keswick continued their midfield attacking play and were awarded a penalty 25 metres out in the middle of the pitch which fly-half Holloway landed.
A series of rucks near the Wasps line ended with a penalty to Keswick and again Holloway converted to close the gap to 14-12 on the half hour.
The next few minutes brought a series of penalties and attacking moves from both sides and when Keswick were penalised for crossing in midfield Moore put over the kick.
But then it was Keswick’s turn and Holloway’s fifth successful kick took the visitors into the break trailing 17-15.
Cockermouth coach Stephen Reed opted to bring on fresh legs at halftime but a minute in they were down to 14 men from a yellow card.
Keswick had several penalties over the next few minutes, attacking vigorously deep into the Wasps half but weren’t able to score.
In open play Sam Tyson made 20 metres with an excellent pacy burst from about half way and the ball was rapidly recycled right to Steve Stoddart.
He chipped back to the blind side towards the Keswick line with Harry Bibby following through to score in the clubhouse corner. The extras, from wide out, were added by Moore.
Then on 62 minutes an offside penalty allowed Keswick to find touch for a line-out close to the Wasps line from which Matty Atkinson drove over to score a try which Holloway converted and put the game on a knife edge at 24-22.
A few minutes later Bibby took a quick tap in midfield and the ball was moved rapidly left stretching the defence and allowing Moore to stride through for a try which he converted.
Towards full time play ebbed and flowed with handling errors, penalties and both sides pressing hard.
From the half way line Wasps kicked a penalty deep over the Keswick line and when they knocked on, Wasps were awarded a five metre scrum.
A free kick followed and a very aware Bibby quickly tapped and eventually Gray powered over to score near the corner.
The final whistle blew after the failed conversion attempt to end a very competitive match.
Man of the match was a joint award for Wasps with Alex Butterfield and Jake Moore selected while for Keswick it went to Steve Holloway.
Keswick coach Martin Relph said: “This was an excellent derby game and with the score 17-15 at half time, was anyone’s to win until the final minutes.
“We travelled with a seventeen man squad, and we had several forwards having to play in the backs, and to make things worse we lost a prop in the first five minutes with a head injury.
“Cockermouth were a young, fit side and they were playing good direct rugby.
“It was Cockermouth’s ill discipline which kept Keswick in the game, and Steve Holloway had a great day with the boot.
“The game was very tight until the last 10 minutes when Cockermouth ran in two tries.
“On the day the main difference was that Cockermouth had all of their five replacements available, and that is telling on a heavy pitch.
“From a coach’s point of view, our lads played some great rugby, they played until the final whistle, and they never gave up the fight.
“All of our 17 players should be very proud of their performance because the coaches were.”
