THE INTRODUCTION of two substitutes and a general reshuffle of the side at half time transformed Windermere in this cup thriller with Whitehaven at Dawes Meadow.

Fly-half Jonothan Cooper and tall lock forward Stuart Long gave Windermere a new cutting edge and with the whole team responding to their example, confident Whitehaven who must have felt that this tie was there for the taking, were subsequently blown away.

It was a remarkable match.

Windermere lost a prop to the sin bin in the first half while in the second, one player from each side was dismissed and a linesman ordered away by the referee following a fracas on the touchline.

Yet despite these lapses of discipline, both teams were always eager to move the ball and scored some excellent tries in an enjoyable match.

Whitehaven made an impressive start with a fine try near the posts by Stuart Lawrie, but Graham Rose missed the conversion.

Windermere replied with a penalty from Chris Sansom and then Steve Norton burst through the centre for a try which Sansom converted to give Windermere a surprise 10-5 lead.

Then came the first yellow card and depleted Windermere conceded a try to Steve McConnell after a sweeping Whitehaven attack. Next, Steve McCourt added another after a neat chip ahead and this time Rose converted to make it 17-10 to the visitors at the break.

Windermere's second half revival was spectacular as dynamic flanker Danny Blenkharn and exceptional lineout play inspired the forwards, with Jonothan Cooper orchestrating matters behind the scrum.

The whole Windermere side responded magnificently and there was little Whitehaven could do about it.

Attacking in waves, Windermere were soon level when Danny Blenkharn burst through to the posts to leave Chris Sansom an easy conversion. Sansom added a penalty before Whitehaven broke away to snatch back the lead with a try in the corner from Mike Cottier.

Windermere were not to be denied, however. and Jonothan Cooper forced his way over for Sansom to convert.

The visitors were under increasing pressure now and a concerted attack allowed Mike Procter to score the next try, improved by Sansom.

Cooper finished a fine display with a coolly taken drop-goal to complete the scoring.