	Cockermouth vs. Whitehaven 23rd March

	Cockermouth 12 Whitehaven 22

	In an entertaining game at Grasmoor, Whitehaven only took 5 minutes to take the lead when they picked up a loose ball to feed thier winger to score. Cockermouth, playing with the wind, tried to use the elements to play their rugby in the opposition half. A good deep kick into the visitors half by Ross Maguire was followed up by winger Mathew Paton to put the Whitehaven defence under pressure. From the ensuing 5 metre scrum Cockermouth picked up the ball and drove over the line for Jamie Moffat to score. A well taken conversion giving the home side a 7-5 lead. Whitehaven regained the lead on 26 mins when they scored a well crafted try, the conversion increasing the lead to 12-7. After some excellent forward drives by Guy Jeffries and Wayne Kavanah, Cockermouth scored a similar try to bring the scores level when the forwards took a clean lineout ball on the 22m line and mauled towards the tryline. They were forced to re-direct as they were pushed towards the touch line but the pack controlled the situation well and when Matthew Woodcock joined to add extra weight, they drove over the line, Woodcock emerging as try scorer. The scores being level at half time was a fair reflection on the balance of play. As the second half began Whitehaven immediately used the wind to their advantage and pinned Cockermouth in their 22 metre area. Resilient defending kept them at bay but eventually the pressure told and a good driving maul saw them score. At 17-12 Cockermouth were still in with a shout and on 60 mins Matthew Woodcock broke away from his own 22 metre line. A try looked certain after the ball was released to supporting players but super defensive work by the Whitehaven backs brought the attack to an end near the try line. Cockermouth applied more pressure but couldn’t cross the line. The killer blow for Cockermouth came on 68 mins when a long clearance took the ball deep into their half, a missed touch kick allowed Whitehaven to take the initiative and score. At 22-12 and with 13 minutes remaining Cockermouth didn’t give up and continued to press. Whitehaven conceded a string of penalties which Cockermouth elected to run or to take the scrum and although the visitor’s defence creaked under the pressure time eventually ran out for Cockermouth. This was another good performance by Cockermouth and although disappointment always comes with defeat there is now real optimism in the way the young players are starting to mature into their roles in senior rugby.