On a blustery and showery day Hawcoat Park welcomed Carlisle based Creighton to town.

Despite the recent heavy rain, the pitch was in perfect condition thanks to the hard work of Nobby Clarke, Lee and their small team of volunteers.5 mins into the game we took the lead.

Powerful running winger Luke Harrison operating in the second row due to injuries and non-availability among the regular pack burst onto a neat Lewis Sayle pass and surprise Creighton with his pace from a "forward" to slice through from 40 metres out.

Soon after skipper Chris Burns scored our second try finishing off a good handling move and taking a final pass from fellow centre Dan Lightfoot.  Benji Platt added the conversion 12 - 0.
No further scores were added in the remainder of an evenly matched first half.

Mistakes and wrong options were taken in the testing conditions and as always is the case Creighton were playing as a complete committed unit working very hard for each other.

They had attacking spells in our 22 area and the grafting back row of Rory Sayle, Jack Stephens and Alfie White had to tackle well to keep them out.

Wingers Alex Brown and Keenan Cotton were also tacking well and full back Benji Platt was having a solid game and making good use of the strong wind to clear our line. Half time 12 - 0.
Into the second half and Creighton’s resources became a little stretched picking up injuries and through fatigue from their first half efforts, but as usual they never took a backward step.
Our front row of props Scott Dobbie, Lewis Phillips, and the always consistent hooker Andy Kent along with second row John Donnan were running strongly putting us on the front foot.

From a turn over by Dan Lightfoot and another good run from Scott Dobbie scrum half Jack Shannon spotted a gap in the defence to dive over Benji Platt added the conversion. 17 - 0.

Soon after Jack Shannon showed his versatility moving to the back row allowing stylish replacement Jonathan Mahon to control play from scrum half and following an excellent individual running try under the posts by fly half Lewis Sayle three further tries were added as Creighton tired.

They came via a brace from strong running back row Alfie White and winger Jack Lord.
There was time for Creighton to score the consolation try their committed play deserved.

A maroon and white attack down the right wing broke down about half way and the Creighton winger hacked on and showed good pace to win the touch down much to the delight of his team mates Final score 41 - 5.

A big thank you to President Eddie France for sponsoring the match ball and to his son former first team captain Neil and a gang of his ex-player mates from his era the likes of Dave Gallagher, Steve McArthur et al who kindly sponsored the game.

They selected scrum half Jack Shannon as their sponsors man of the match.

Also, thanks to coach Col Niven who does a great job putting in the hard work to help keep the show on the road - his efforts are really appreciated.

A word of thanks also for referee Roger Moffat for his sensible control of the game always trying his best to let the game continue.

A tough trip up the coast to Egremont awaits next week.