Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 10 July 2008

HENSINGHAM centre Kyle Amor was man-of-the-match as Cumbria finally opened their win account in the third match of their Australia tour - a 34-18 victory over Penrith Waratahs.

Cumbria took the field with a team mixing youth and experience and the game started at a frantic pace with the tourists keen to impress.

However they forced the pass too often and made rash decisions leading to too much spilled ball.

The Waratahs opened the scoring on 15 minutes after Cumbria dropped a ball on their own 25-metre line.

The tourists came back strongly and almost scored immediately only for the impressive Dan Rooney to lose the ball over the line. Ryan Moore’s pass was then judged to be forward when Aaron Low had a clear run to the line.

Constant pressure however allowed captain Eddie Robinson to break the line from dummy-half 30 metres out and touch down between the posts.

The Ellenborough ace converted to level the scores at 6-6 on 38 minutes.

With only a minute left on the first-half clock, a handling error gave possession to Penrith who scored right on the hooter to make the score 12-6 half-time.

After the break, following a stern talk from the coaching staff, Cumbria came out with renewed vigour.

On 52 minutes loose-forward Ryan Moore put Amor in to space and the centre powered over. The try visibly lifted the visitors and on 57 minutes a strong run by Amor released Paul Osborne, the Broughton winger crossing in the corner to put Cumbria 14-12 up.

With the hosts on the back foot and joint tour captain Graham Lupton coming off the bench to drive Cumbria forward, the game flowed in their direction, Amor going over for Cumbria’s fourth try, again out wide.

Stout defence kept Waratahs pinned in their own half constantly and it was only a matter of time before the visitors scored again, this time Lupton using his bulk to force his way over under the posts.

Robinson converted and just two minutes later, young Barrow Island centre Aaron Low crossed following a sweeping move and Robinson converted.

The hosts got a brief respite when they pounced on a dropped ball to go between the posts, but Low scored a 60-metre interception try on the next set to restore the advantage.

On 75 minutes the floodlights went out leading to a premature end to a great performance from Cumbria.