St Benedict’s under-14s faced their toughest challenge to date against a much improved, physical and resilient Carlisle side.

The opening exchanges set the tone for a physical encounter which Saints won 31-5. Saints try scorers were Luke Spivey, Oscar Doran, Josh Hewitt, Sam Murtagh and Ashton Sice with Murtagh adding three conversions.

It was a great performance from all 17 Saints players with Billy Murray, Keane Martin and Murtagh the standouts.

St Benedict’s under-13s travelled to Cockermouth hoping to continue their winning run. From the start Saints’ strong defence, led by Tom McKinney and Zac Benson Lester, set the tone and strong running from Luca Hiddleston and Spike Canavan made inroads.

Cockermouth scored a try just before half time but Saints started the second half strongly with Keene Archer and Alf McQuire turning Cockermouth over. Hiddleston finished with four tries. McKinney, Miller Dalton and Keelan McKeown also scored, McKinney added five goals.

St Benedicts under-12s played in Workington Zebras’ festival on Sunday. Their first game was against a physical Millom side. It took skill from Zach Clarke, Jaylen Conway and Kier Starkie, plus good running from Ben Pearce to secure the win, alongside good work from Luke Clements, Rylan Templeton and Theo Crowe.

The second game was against Carlisle in horrific weather but Bobby Ennis’s hat-trick and great defence from Bailey Worthington saw them pick up another win.

Against the hosts, Zebras, Brady Clifford and Harrison Telford shone with some under-11s stepping up and not looking out of place in Jack Carney, Preston Meloy and Ashton Quigley.

The last game was against Wigton who only had eight so three Saints players swapped sides to make it equal. Saints got a final win to conclude a good day.