St Benedict's moved seven points clear at the top of the North Lancs Cumbria League table with an emphatic 40-0 win over Whitehaven.

The game was one of just two in the league that was played, and the only fixture in Cumbria that was fulfilled as the county was hit by frost.

Bennies previously had a game in hand over rivals Bolton and Aspatria, but the three sides have now played the same number of fixtures and, as a result, the Mirehouse side have taken a commanding lead at the top of the table.

Thanks to a handful of volunteers who worked all of Saturday morning, the game at Newlands was able to go ahead. Saints were out of the traps early and put pressure on the Whitehaven defence.

Within five minutes, they scored their first points of the afternoon.

The dominant pack drove into the Whites’ 22 and the ball was moved away from the rolling maul to Mike Hawley who sliced through the defence to score under the posts. Dan Rayson added the extras from in front of the sticks for a 7-0 lead.

Mike Ramsden and Gav Maudling were making inroads with ball in hand but Haven had a chance to reduce the deficit with a penalty on the 22 but the kick was pulled wide.

This would be the only time in the game that they would come close to scoring as, from a lineout, Bennies caught and drove the Haven pack.

Gordon Maudling was at the back of the maul and he danced around several would-be tacklers to score his side’s second try - Rayson added the extras.

Mark Caulfield pulled up with a calf strain and was replaced by Ryan Fisher, but this didn’t deter the home side as they went further ahead.

From another catch and drive, Gary Gibbons this time broke off and raced away to score. Rayson kicked his third conversion of the afternoon to put the Saints 21-0 ahead. The bonus point try was secured just before half-time as Gordon Maudling showed his pace and dummied a defended to go through a gap.

He then found Mike Hawley who put in a chip and Gavin Maudling won the footrace to the loose ball and touched it down to help his side to a 28-0 lead at the break.

A number of changes were made at the break with Mark Routledge coming on for Ben Harrison and Gibbons replaced by Lee Wood for the second half.

Saints again enjoyed the majority of possession but fell into the trap of trying to score from every phase.

A few choice words from the coaching staff kicked the home side back into gear and Gordon Maudling finished off a crisp move in the corner for his side’s fifth try and a 33-0 lead.

Scott Wood came off with injury and Craig Halligan followed, leading to the returns of both Gibbons and Harrison.

Gordon Maudling was then sent to the sin-bin for talking back to the referee.

Saints’ sixth and final try came from winger Karl Drake who collected a kick and chipped it back over the defence to regather and score. Rayson kicked the conversion for a final score of 40-0.

Saints have a visit from Hawcoat Park on Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm.