Fly-half George Smith scored a hat-trick as Hawcoat Park defied awful weather conditions to hammer bottom club Creighton 87-12 in Cumbria Division One.

On an horrendously wet, windy and cold day that was not fit for rugby, for players and spectators alike, the Maroon and Whites ran in 13 tries in total to keep themselves sixth in the table.

A special mention, however, goes to the Carlisle-based side for making the trip over wild Shap down to the south of the county. They deserve real credit it is not a pleasant feeling losing often heavily each week.

Creighton travelled to Barrow with 15 players, but injuries during the game meant they ended short handed, although they declined Hawcoat's offer to play their replacements to even the numbers, as they bravely struggled on.

The first 15 minutes were an even contest, as the then fresh Creighton pack took the ball up well. At this point, the hosts scored their first try, with full back Benji Platt coming into the line and creating space to free up winger Alex Brown to finish well from 40 metres out.

Smith slotted over a great conversion considering the conditions and from this point tries came at regular intervals, with Hawcoat opening up a 56-5 lead by half-time.

Creighton scored a good try in each half, with their first coming when their centre burst through from inside his own 22, making good ground before parting to his supporting pacey winger to score in the corner.

In the second half, their scrum-half reacted quickly to take a quick tap from a penalty and run strongly to force his way over near the posts, with the conversion good.

Despite the very difficult conditions, the Maroon and Whites played some good handling rugby.

Smith was man of the match as he orchestrated their free flowing play in the wet throughout and crossed the whitewash three times whilst forming a very effective partnership with inside centre Will Coles, creating at grass roots level what George Ford and Owen Farrell do at international level

Smith kicked an amazing 11 conversions from all over the pitch, only missing two attempts, to give him a personal haul of 37 points, which was some achievement in the conditions.

The full list of Hawcoat's try scorers in what was their third win in a row were Smith (3), Platt (2), Coles (2), Alex Brown (2), Harry Higgins, Grady Slater, Adam Grainger and Alfie White.

A word also for Millom-based referee Danny Shovleton, who as always sensibly controlled the game.