Cumbrian teenagers begin with 50-point walkover
Last updated 11:49, Tuesday, 07 October 2008
WEST Cumbria’s new Under-18 outfit continued their successful start to the National Youth League campaign with their 50-12 win over Siddal at Whitehaven’s Recreation Ground.
The hosts led only 18-6 at the break but powered clear in the second-half.
The Yorkshiremen started strongly, prop Joshua Sandland running on to an inside ball to score after five minutes, converting his own try.
Three minutes later, strong running from the West forwards set the platform for second-row Harry Kaufmann to crash through, stand-off Nick Burgess levelling.
Scrum-half Callum Phillips then dived over from dummy-half, converted by Burgess.
The hosts started to dominate in possession with a fine break from Nicky Cook supported by Mark Watson, then followed up with some pinpoint passing down the right side, centre Adam Ramsden scoring out wide. Burgess’s conversion made the score 18-6.
The second-half started with some strong defence from both sides forcing errors. Siddal gained decent field position and capitalised on a West Cumbria error with Sandland scoring a try tight around the ruck, the prop again adding the extras.
With only six points between the teams, the Cumbrians started to put on defensive pressure, Ramsden scooping up his charge-down and running 30 metres to score.
West Cumbria started to build momentum and broke through the Siddal line with hooker Watson scoring on 53 minutes.
The Yorkshire outfit came back strongly and worked hard to gain field position until a loose pass was collected by Watson who ran 20 metres before off-loading to centre Karl Olstrom, who sprinted 60 metres to score under the posts.
West Cumbria were now well on top and broke and down the right side with some fantastic interchange passing resulting in Nicky Cook going over in the corner.
Kieran Glenn added another and Troy Armstrong eventually went under the posts to complete a length-of-the-field move. Burgess finished with four goals, Cook, two, and Ramsden, one.
