AFTER a slow start Windermere took control in this Cumbria League game at Dawes Meadow yet made hard work of beating a moderate Millom side.

Windermere 21 - Millom 5.

Too many mistakes and wrong options contributed to the home side's failure to put the opposition to the sword and not until the closing minutes did they get things together to score the best try of the match.

Millom flattered to deceive for after a storming opening quarter when they ran straight and hard to stretch the home defence they later fell away as the Windermere forwards took control.

For all their possession, however, Windermere did not impress. The running lines of the backs were too lateral and the passing left a lot to be desired. Often, players received man and ball and many attempted moves lost ground.

The home forwards always had the upper hand but back-row moves were overdone and support for individual bursts was not there.

Millom were not helped by the sin-binning of a couple of players and frequent niggling injuries. They were often penalised for killing the ball in a scrappy second half and all in all this was not a game to live in the memory.

Chris Sansom gave Windermere the lead with a penalty goal before a defensive blunder presented Millom winger Kershaw with a gift try following a kick through from defence. Another penalty goal by Sansom restored the Windermere lead with the last kick of the half.

Excellent driving play by the Windermere pack produced a penalty award early in the second half and Sansom was on target again.

It was very much one-way traffic now and strong running by Jeremy Wood gave Jonothan Cooper the chance to step through the defence to score near the posts and leave Sansom a simple conversion.

Eventually, good handling between backs and forwards split the Millom defence in the dying minutes for Sansom to score the final try.