Ten years ago Cockermouth rugby union club decided to put their faith in youth.

It’s been tough going sometimes, and the path forward has not always been smooth, but now the club is reaping the rewards.

Cockermouth are unbeaten after five games of League and Cup rugby and have achieved some notable scalps already.

Chairman of rugby Jeff Peet is understandably proud of what the team – average age 24 – is achieving this season.

“The young boys I was telling you about three years ago as having a future in the game are young men now and the results are there for all to see.

“We decided to build a youth system ten years ago at the club and that is now flourishing through the players who have come through.

“We went to Egremont on Saturday and beat last season’s League runners-up 38-29. Ninety per cent of the players had come through the various age groups at the club.

“The other ten per cent are Cockermouth lads but who came to the game later than the others,” says Peet.

As well as that fine win at Egremont, Cockermouth have also been to Windermere twice in League and Cup, and won twice – something they have never done in ten years.

Remarkably that average age of 24 would be drastically lower were it not for the continued presence in the second row of 52-year-old Steffan Highton.

“Steffan is earning his place on merit and recently achieved an ambition of playing alongside his 17-year-old son Isaac.

“Against Egremont the back three were all aged just 17 and the front row are all 21,” says Peet.

Cockermouth clearly have the right sort of blueprint for creating their own rugby team and tomorrow they take on St. Benedict’s Ravens from another club who have been bucking the trend and increasing player participation.

“As well as a successful first team we are now able to put out a second team and that can only be good for the future of the club,” says Peet.

Matches are few and far between tomorrow but probably the most tasty will be at Bower Park where Aspatria host Bolton in the national Intermediate Cup.

Bolton lost 24-8 at Aspatria in North Lancs Cumbria on the second Saturday of the season. The Black Reds had lost their first match at Fleetwood but the win over Bolton was the start of a successful run which has seen them record five straight League victories.

The most recent was Saturday’s 21-8 win at Aldwinians when they travelled without a number of key players.

However included in the second row was Dicky Miller who has suffered some bad injuries over the past few seasons during which he has been on the books of Tynedale in National 2.

Over the summer Miller took the decision to return to his home town club to progress his rehabilitation. All Black Red supporters will be heartened that this popular player had an excellent return and completed the full 80 minutes.

Aspatria are trying to emulate St. Benedict’s in the Intermediate Cup when they start the Twickenham trail tomorrow.

“It would be nice to do what Benny’s achieved in reaching the final and going one better by winning the trophy,” said Aspatria official Barney Clegg.