by John Walsh

Published at 11:26, Thursday, 22 November 2012

ST Benedict’s won the Copeland derby in North Lancs Cumbria when they beat neighbours Whitehaven 20-3.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

They had beaten their local rivals 45-7 in the Cumbria Plate a week earlier, but Whitehaven offered more of a threat this time with several players back in the line-up. Benny’s were first on the score-sheet with a penalty from Kristian Wood and then Sean Fitzsimons was held-up twice over the Whitehaven line.

On 30 minutes the home side did cross when Kyle Hiddlestone broke from a scrum, fed Craig Fisher and he in turn put Daniel Appleton over in the corner.

Right on half-time Benny’s went close again when Scott Wood was held-up just short of the line.

But early in the second-half Whitehaven were caught out by a break from Hiddlestone who got through from halfway to score and Wood added the conversion.

Whitehaven were given hope by a penalty from Stephen McConnell but although they had a good ten minute spell on top they rarely looked like breaking through the home defence.

Victory was sealed for Benny’s 10 minutes from the end when Hiddlestone and Ryan Fisher combined well to put Gavin Maudling over for the third try.

Right at the death Benny’s were close to a four-try bonus point but first Fitzsimons and then Jamie Doran were tackled just short.

Keswick lost ground when they were beaten at home 12-3 by Aldwinians after a very tight game.

The Lakesiders are still under strength but put up a plucky fight against a bigger Aldwinians side who stuck rigidly to their game plan throughout.

They had to defend well and on one occasion had to hold four successive scrums right on their own line. The pressure told when the Droylsden side forced their way over for an unconverted try.

Keswick came back brightly and could have grabbed the lead just before the break. Tom Garner made a great run down the wing but Dean Robinson just couldn’t take his pass inside or he would have been over under the posts.

But early in the second-half Keswick did cut the deficit with a Brian Storey penalty.

Then, however, Aldwinians turned the screw and for fully 25 minutes the home side was pinned in its own 22.

Still Aldwinians couldn’t score and when the siege was lifted Keswick were able to pose a few problems of their own.

The visitors, however, weren’t to be denied and when they returned to the attack managed to score a converted try to give them a nine-point advantage.

Storey made a bold effort to earn a losing bonus point for Keswick but from long range was a foot wide with a penalty in the last minute.

Not for the first time this season Workington were involved in a high-scoring game but came out second best, losing 39-29 at Upper Eden.

They paid the price for a sketchy first-half performance when the home side scored most of their points, building-up a 32-12 lead at the break.

Mike Fearon scored the opening try for Workington, which he converted, and Robert Scott also crossed.

The Zebras did a lot better after the break and made inroads into the lead with tries from Scott and young Connor McKay, both converted by Fearon who also landed a penalty.

They were throwing the ball around in a frantic effort to get in front when the ball was spilled and Upper Eden broke to score the clinching try which they converted.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk