Cockermouth 5 - Windermere 27...

IT'S "SAME again" for Windermere, who face Cockermouth at home this Saturday in a rearranged Cumbria League fixture after outgunning them by four tries to one on Saturday.

On arrival, Windermere found the first-team pitch was waterlogged, but the referee allowed the game to go ahead on an upturned bowl of a second-team pitch, a drier but difficult surface.

Windermere's team showed a couple of changes with vice-captain Dan Nield out with a back strain and second row Brett Cooper unavailable. Darren Smith and Shaun Stafford filled the vacancies respectively.

Despite Cockermouth's lowly position, good early pressure from both sides suggested it would be one of Windermere's harder assignments this season.

A try eased any worries the visitors had, however, as Martin Lord made good ground up the centre of the field with his pack following. Quick ruck ball was fed along the back line to Matthew Nield, who beat his winger to score an unconverted try in the corner.

The Windermere pack then started to master the home side and produce a series of good platforms for the backs. It brought a second try when Nicko Cross broke down the right and beat three men to score under the posts, Chris Sansom converting.

Leading 13-0, Windermere went to sleep and allowed the home pack to get a foothold back into the contest and force a couple of penalties.

This spell of pressure was turned into points when Ian McDowell beat his winger to score at the corner.

Half time arrived with Windermere opting for a change to the front row as Stephen Bragg replaced Martin Lord. But Cockermouth started the second half as they had finished the first, putting Windermere under the cosh and were only denied a score by some good defence.

Finally, Windermere found their legs again and forced the home side into conceding a penalty for killing the ball, which Sansom slotted over to earn them a bit more breathing-space at 16-5.

Back in charge, Windermere then added two more tries. Matthew Nield went over for one of his best so far this season, beating all the home backs to score near the posts and Sansom duly added the extras.

But Windermere's final try surpassed even that effort as the ball was lavishly spun across the back line to Jeremy Wood, who broke down the left flank.

He found Cross in support to cut inside and slice through the defence to complete an impressive scoring movement.