NOT until midway through the second half did Windermere look to be in with a chance of winning this semi-final tie.

They trailed by five points, missed a number of kicks at goal and in fact were being comprehensively outplayed up front and behind the scrum by a competent Millom side.

Then a productive ten-minute spell in the second half brought them two tries, the first converted, which changed the whole complexion of the game and in the end it was the visitors who wilted under pressure.

More surprising still, this Windermere success was achieved by a team virtually unrecognisable from that which has gained promotion from the Cumbria League.

Even so, this mixture of first and second team players, several of them in unaccustomed positions, showed real determination and got stronger as the game progressed.

The Millom try came after just seven minutes. Windermere full-back Simon Cole took a quick throw-in on his own 22, gathered the awkwardly bouncing ball himself, but was then caught in possession.

Millom were up in numbers, spread the ball wide and the speedy Ricky Kershaw scored in the corner. Jason Slater could not convert but encouraged by this early score, Millom took control for the rest of the half and Windermere were at full stretch to prevent them going further ahead.

The early play in the second half followed a similar pattern with the Millom forwards driving Windermere back and the backs looking dangerous. But Windermere refused to lie down and their lighter forwards fought back hard to take play into the visitors' 22.

Then a quickly-taken penalty saw Pete Tam drive over for a try under the posts with Mike Proctor adding the goal points.

As the pressure was sustained, Proctor missed a simple kick at goal only to redeem himself immediately by catching the ball from the restart and crossing for a try in the corner.

Millom were stunned by this second score and with Windermere beginning to believe in themselves, the visitors were shut out of the game. This was a fine team effort by Windermere with Ainsworth in the centre outstanding in attack and defence.

n Kendal romped to a 41-0 victory over Furness in the other semi-final, but a date for the final is still to be arranged.

Aspatria could not raise a side for the Cumbria U21 Cup semi-final against Kendal, but the tie has been rescheduled for this Sunday (3pm).

May 9, 2003 09:30