Aspatria Rugby Club romped to a 49-5 victory over St Benedict’s, posting seven tries in their first win against the Whitehaven side for more than five years.

The Bennies' line-up was vastly changed from that which narrowly beat the Black Reds on home soil in November, and the absences made a big difference.

After a scrappy start, Aspatria made the breakthrough on 16 minutes when full-back Ken Bowes was able to join the line and surge over for the opening try. Jack Clegg kicked the first of four conversion

After Callum McGrady was sin-binned for an illegal tackle on 22 minutes, the home side took up residence on the try-line and, eventually, Clegg was on hand to take a sharp pass and go over at the corner flag.

St Benedict’s responded well and, for the first time in the game, had Aspatria on the ropes but after stand-off Ryan Fisher had created a one-man overlap on the left, they failed to get the final pass away.

In the minutes before half-time, ill-discipline haunted St Benedict’s and Clegg landed two penalties for an 18-0 lead.

Aspatria opened the second half strongly and winger Grant Bethwaite had the easy task of taking the ball over the line after some impressive work by centre Ryan Scott.

On 52 minutes, prop Graham Andrews surged over the line from a couple of metres out for the bonus-point try.

Bennies conjured up enough energy to take the game back to the home 22 and eventually their persistence paid off. The pack controlled the ball on the left and pulled Aspatria defenders out of position. When the ball went wide, inside centre Paul Cullen took advantage as he raced over the line.

But Aspatria finished strongly and scored three further tries before the end from Matthew Atkinson (2) and Patrick Noutch.

Keswick were 25-0 winners in Cumbria League One’s top versus bottom clash at Kirkby Stephen against Upper Eden.

The hosts had proved to be difficult opponents in Keswick’s home fixture only three weeks earlier and had kept the match tight until the last quarter.

Keswick kicked off into the Upper Eden half and stayed there for the next 15 minutes, although all they had to show for it was an early penalty by Andy Muir.

Dominant in the set scrums, Keswick put pressure on to win another penalty but, this time, the kick went wide.

From the dropout, Keswick attacked and were denied by a knock forward, after which Eden got into the Keswick half for the first time.

Keswick, however, were winning their scrums and finding good clearances and they increased their lead on 21 minutes.

An Upper Eden dropout was caught by Will Addyman who linked well with Ollie MacPherson. He made a penetrating run before passing to Louis Cornforth, and he danced through the last two tackles to score an unconverted try.

After 35 minutes, their forwards finally got within a metre of the Keswick line before losing possession and despite winning three subsequent penalties of their own, which they tapped to get to the line twice more, were unable to score.

Eight minutes into the second half, Keswick scored again. Aaron Thompson touching the ball down for a pushover try, again unconverted.

Three minutes later, forwards and backs combined well after Addyman took another good catch. Lewis Lindsay, Carrick Wharmby and Andy Wallace were all involved before Ryan Weir scored an unconverted try in the corner.

On 62 minutes, having clearly considered the option at the last try, the referee lost patience as the Eden scrum broke up again and awarded a penalty try and the bonus point win.

Cockermouth also completed a quick double, beating Wigton 19-5 following a narrow 13-12 victory at Lowmoor Road last month.

The power of the Cockermouth scrum proved to be the deciding factor with all three of their tries being identical.

The home forwards pushed the Wigton pack backwards until they reached the try-line for a touch down, two of which were converted.

Wigton played well in patches but the awful weather and slippery ball resulted in both sides dropping in good positions.

Wigton did manage to score a try following some good work by the forwards with James Wilson touching down.

Whitehaven picked up a losing bonus point in difficult, wet conditions at Hawcoat Park.

They scored three tries in a 23-19 defeat through fly-half Jordan Scott (2) and centre Adam Ramsden, with two conversions from Steve McConnell.

Whitehaven are three points clear of the bottom side Upper Eden with four games left before the league splits into two sections of four.