The trip to St Benedicts wasn't exactly worth the wait for Furness, who were soundly defeated 57-12 by their in-form hosts in Cumbria Division One.

The fixture at Mirehouse had twice been postponed this season due to the Blues being unable to raise a side and they were up against a side who are flying high in the division and had won their seven previous games.

In the end, the game went according to the form book, with Furness managing a couple of replies whilst making their hosts work for their tries, as they remaining second-from-bottom following their first game back.

It won't get any easier for them on Saturday, as they'll be travelling north to face another of the division's top teams in fifth-placed Wigton.

Windermere also endured a tough afternoon, as they were defeated 45-5 by a Whitehaven team who have been consistently strong so far this season at Dawes Meadow.

It means the Ambers have still only won three games during the campaign and there appears little chance of them adding to that tally this weekend, as they'll be travelling to leaders Cockermouth.

Hawcoat Park A couldn't maintain their recent upturn in form as they lost 24-5 to Ormskirk 2nd XV, who showed why they are second in Division Four North of the Halbro League.

With no fixture this weekend, their next game is at home to Lostock on January 18,