Hawcoat Park not surprisingly made light work of an under-strength Carlisle Crusaders, who they hammered 87-29 in Cumbria Division One last Saturday, with Luke Harrison grabbing a hat-trick.

The Maroon and Whites crossed the try line 13 times in total against what was a youthful Crusaders side, who had to borrow a few players from the hosts after travelling down from Carlisle with only 11 in their party.

For that reason, the visitors deserve a ton of credit for fulfilling the fixture and they still managed to show some quality in the winter sun, even though they were mostly overrun.

As to be expected, Hawcoat started the stronger of the two sides and lively scrum-half Lewis Sayle was prominent in the early exchanges by helping himself to two tries.

Former captain Jason Priss returned to the side at No.8 and was another who had a very strong game throughout and scored in between Sayle’s brace.

Winger Harrison was a handful every time he got his hands on the ball, running strongly and showing good pace throughout the game. He and returning centre Chris Burns, another effective runner, also got on the scoresheet before half an hour had been placed, with the score 35- 0.

At this point, Carlisle collected their first try and pouncing on a mistake was Col Wright, a home player kindly playing for Carlisle, who finished well in the corner.

Before half-time winger Rodney Odondi scored Park’s sixth try, catching a perfect cross-field kick from fly-half George Smith, although he unfortunately pulled his hamstring in finishing.

The Maroon and Whites went into half-time 40-5 ahead, but Carlisle, to their credit, dug in deep during the second half.

The intensity in the home side’s play dropped off a little as mistakes were made and tackles missed, but that is to take nothing away from the spirit and endeavour shown by the Carlisle lads, who at one point, playing some good handling rugby, got the score back to 45- 24.

However, Hawcoat finished the stronger further tries came regularly, which included Luke Harrison completing a hat trick and then, much to the amusement of his teammates, dropping the ball over the line after a lung-busting length of the field run.

Park’s other tries during the second half came from Priss, Burns, Smith (who also kicked 11 conversions to finish with a personal haul of 27 points), Paul Woodburn and Andy Graham.

Special thanks go to Martin Kennedy, Wright, Colin Niven, Graham and Andy Kent, who are varying times put on a Carlisle shirt.