SECURING the try-scoring bonus point proved a form of consolation for Hawcoat Park as they were beaten 53-24 at home to Wigton in the first game of the new-look Cumbria League One on Saturday.

Fielding something of patched-up team, Hawcoat were under pressure almost straight from the kick off and conceded two earlier penalties, followed by four quick, well-worked tries which took Wigton out to a 32-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

It fell to home skipper George Smith, and experienced players such as Ash Mowat and Adam Grainger, to rally their younger team-mates and Park slowly began to get back into the game

After a good spell and good work by John Donnan and Andy Kent, it was the outstanding Mowat who forced his way over with support from his fellow forwards for an unconverted try

A converted try on the half-hour mark saw Wigton push further ahead, but Hawcoat pulled another back before half time on the back of some good play.

Adam Grainer set the platform with some good forward play, followed by James Howden moving the ball out wide. New dad Lewis Sayle then had Rodney Odondi, playing at centre rather than his usual wing position, and Glenn Kaighan outside him, but his pass was deliberately knocked on by a defender, leading to a penalty try and a yellow card for the visitors.

That made the score 39-12 at the break and it was a similar story after the second half, with the whole-hearted commitment from the Park players appreciated by the supporters.

Another converted try saw Wigton extend their lead 15 minutes after the restart, but Hawcoat were not done yet.

Impressive young winger Keenan Cotton, who was making his first-team debut, set an attack in motion with some good work, setting up Paul Woodburn for a strong run which led to Smith sending Kaighan over for an unconverted score out wide.

Then on 70 minutes, good runs from Odondi and Sayle led to Mowat continuing the attack and slipping a great pass inside to full-back Benji Platt for him to get the fourth try to secure the bonus point, with Smith adding the extras as well.

Wigton did manage to pass the half-century mark in the closing stages when one of their seconds row forced his way over for a converted try, but captain Smith was still able to take some encouragement from the way Park responded after an early onslaught.

In Cumbria League Two, Windermere rebounded from the previous week’s defeat with a 34-12 win at home to Moresby and Furness’ trip to Aspatria Eagles was postponed.