This was a fantastic win, but one that didn’t look very likely in the opening minutes at Penrith RUFC’s Winters Park, writes Ben Challis.
The big and powerful Yorkshire pack dominated in the scrum and drove through Cumbrian defence for quick two tries, adding one conversion for a 0-12 lead.
Cumbria finally got to grips with the game, and a very good passing sequence released Ellis Holiday on the left wing who danced his way past three bemused defenders to touch down by the corner flag with Flynn Manihera landing a difficult conversion with the score line now 7-12 with 15 minutes played.
As the first half progressed, the two sides looked well matched with Cumbria doing much better in the scrum, and with line-outs, but could not break the Yorkshire defence.
Indeed it was Yorkshire who extended their lead when they took possession from a scrum and used a powerful driving maul for a converted try and a 7-19 lead.
As the second half opened, it was Cumbria who now looked the better side, and 15 minutes in a charge down the right wing by Man of the Match Johnny Swallow and Frazer Williamson released Owen Ackerley some 15 metres out from the posts and Ackerley powered through the Yorkshire defence to dive in under the sticks, with Manihera again converting for 14-19 scoreline.
Cumbria then took the lead when a determined charge from vice captain Manihera, Manihera made valuable metres and then as he was tackled produced an excellent and quick offload to set up captain Ashton Quigley 10 metres.
With the momentum, Quigley used brute strength to somehow get to the Yorkshire try line and push his right arm through a sea of legs to touch down under the uprights. Manihera ignored a charge down to coolly place the ball between the sticks for 21-19.
Yorkshire then retook the lead with a converted try before Ackerley produced a near carbon copy of his first try, this one set up by a strong jinking run from Alfie Deans, to punch through the Yorkshire defence to go over under the sticks with Manihera adding his fourth and crucial conversion for 28-26.
It wasn’t over, and with just four minutes left Yorkshire now attacked without fear, but with good defence Cumbria held firm.
However, Yorkshire chose to kick a penalty just inside the Cumbria half with less that a minute left on the clock and Cumbria supporters’ nerves were in shreds as a successful attempt would have produced a win for the visitors.
The kick was taken and whilst on target the kick lacked enough strength to score and Cumbria kept their two-point lead.
Cumbria had possession and all they had to do was put the ball out, but for some reason they decided to play out from their own try line until reason prevailed and the ball was kicked into touch to seal a brave, epic 28-26 win.
Having beaten Lancashire last season as Under-17s in a historic triumph, many of the squad have now enjoyed victories over both of the two big counties in the North, a huge credit to the players, the coaching staff and the support staff.
- Cumbria RU Under-18s: Jack Johnson-Murphy (Kendal), Ethan Davies (Kendal), Charlie Ducie (Hawcoat Park), Alex Palmer (Carlisle), Ashton Quigley (Keswick & Cockermouth Ospreys, C), Isa Muschamp (Kendal), Johnny Swallow (Kendal), Alfie Deans (Wigton), Olly Newton (Penrith), Flynn Manihera (Wigton, VC), Ellis Holliday (Wigton), Marcus Hamilton (Wigton), Logan Jamieson (Austin Friars), Liam Barr (Kendal), Frazer Williamson (Wigton), Will Butler (Wigton), Owen Ackerley (Keswick & Cockermouth Ospreys), Harry Bowman (Penrith), Archie Irving (Wigton), Josh Wilson (Keswick & Cockermouth Ospreys), Jayden Johnston (Wigton), Luke Cuthbertson (Kendal). Coaches: Warren Tilsley, Garry Holmes and Peter Weightman. County representative: Jason Gregory. Physio: Damon King
