Cumbria Rugby Union

Dorset and Wiltshire kicked off to start the game in bright but breezy conditions and it was almost six minutes before they touched the ball again as the Cumbrian team ably led from the front by skipper Matty Houghton (Wharfedale) who drove relentlessly forward in efforts to gain a foothold in their opponents half.

They then lost Gary Hodgson (Aspatria) who was deemed by the medical staff to be unfit to continue with a hand injury. He was replaced by Kirk Chettleburgh (Kendal). Cumbria continued to attack and were rewarded after 12 minutes when Henry Wainwright who was to go on and have a tremendous game broke through two despairing tackles to touchdown. Mark Ireland (Sheffield Tigers) duly converted and Cumbria led 7-0.

D & W were then to lose wing forward Ben Kimber who had to be stretchered from the field. Then on 18 minutes Cumbria increased the lead to 10 – 0 with a penalty by Ireland after the opposition were caught offside. The resulting restart had Cumbria in trouble as the D&W backs kicked through into the 22 metre area and won possession only to find the Cumbrian forwards swarm all over them to win the ball and Glen Weightman (Kendal) who was to win the Man of the match award for his overall control of the game, cleared the line with a good kick to the half way line.

This however did not stop D&W as their big forwards ESPECIALLY Kyle Lovell and Rob Best continued the breach the first line of defence. It was not them however but the backs which created their score when they found enough room on the left wing for Ross Williams to touch down. Sam Baker missed with the conversion.

Things started to look ominous for Cumbria when wing Peter Weightman (Rosslyn Park) and Glen's cousin was yellow carded for a high tackle with lots of noise from the D&W fans wanting the red to be shown.

For the 10 minutes remaining to the first half all the rest of the Cumbrian side lifted their game from Full back Ben Walker (Kirkby Lonsdale) who covered his own position and the space left out wide to the forwards and when Wainwright broke through again Matthew Atkinson was on hand to carry on the attack. He was hauled down but the D&W defence was deemed to transgress and Ireland duly converted. Jamie McKenzie (Keswick) replaced Dan Thompson (KL) and then Adam Brough (Cockermouth) replaced Dom Musetti (Kendal) in the front row. Cumbria however continued to force themselves towards the opposition line and were duly rewarded when they were awarded a penalty which Ireland duly converted.

There was time however for D&W to get to the other end. A penalty was awarded but they went to the corner to prepare for what should have been a planned forward move. Cumbria replaced Atkinson with James Thompson (KL) and Ben Leacock (Wharfedale) who was running the Lineout for Cumbria orchestrated another turnover which was followed firstly by a clearance from Weightman and then Skipper Houghton closing the half down with the score Cumbria 16 D&W 5.

The second half was not to be as quick as the first as both sides were tiring, but it was still as absorbing. Cumbria started gained and then lost possession only for some more great defensive work allowing Weightman to carry on doing clearing the lines. However the D&W side also refused to bow and when once more their forwards broke through the backs again found space out wide for their Fijian winger Laisiasa Vinakadina to dive in and touch down to make the score 16 -10 to Cumbria.

Forward Hodgson who was by now deemed fit to continue after half time discussions between coach Gary Hewer and the match commissioners returned to the field with 30 minutes returning. As another ball went loose in the opposition half it was hacked through towards the Cumbrian line but great covering work by wing Dinilesizwe Noyo (Kendal) who got back, recovered the ball beat his man on the outside and then start a counter attack which took the ball to within touching distance of the line before a penalty was given to D&W for holding on in a tackle.

More substitutions saw Harry Huddleston come on to the wing as Cumbria made positional changes to allow Walker to take James Telford's (Carlisle) place at scrum half, Whilst Ryan Lee (Penrith) replaced hooker Thomas Graham (Carlisle).

Then on the hour mark another of the bulldozing runs by Lovell saw the Cumbrian defence falter and Baker duly converted the penalty, to make the difference 16 – 13. Then Danny Barker (Kendal) broke through into the 22 and passed to Ireland who was tackled feet away from the line. The game was becoming a little scrappy as both sides were making mistakes when in possession and Cumbria were lucky when a missed pass was intercepted. Fortunately for Cumbria it went straight into the hands of Ashley Stokes a prop who looked shocked to see the posts 45 metres away, and he was quickly brought down.

Then as the last minutes were ticking away it was obvious that the next try would win the game, Cumbria were awarded a penalty and Walker took the decision to quickly tap and go but was tackled 10 metres out. The scrum was awarded to Cumbria and Hodgson picked up from the base fended off the scrum half to score near the corner. Another fine conversion from Ireland who had been ably supported by the well-dressed tee controller Billy Maxwell followed.

Cumbria were easily able to see out the remaining two minutes but all credit to D&W as they again pushed for a score, but Barker was on hand to snuff out their final attempt.

Well done to Cumbria who were presented with the Bill Beaumont Division 3 Shield, this follows early attempts at HQ where they were just beaten but emulates the Success in 1997 when Mark Richardson led them to win the Full County Championship. Congratulations to all involved and thanks to all players, coaches, excellent support team and Cumbria RFU Ltd who have made this all possible.

Photo Courtesy of David Nattress.