Carlisle welcomed near neighbours Creighton to Warwick Road for the first time in over 40 years at 1st XV level for a much anticipated match by both clubs. A very healthy crowd gathered on a crisp autumn afternoon as both sides put on a performance that will encourage them for the future. Carlisle ran out comfortable winners in the end but not before Creighton demonstrated their recent improvements on the pitch, contributing heartily to a passionate encounter.

The home side did not play well in the first half. Too many silly mistakes, dropped balls, and a lack of precision, alongside fierce determination from Creighton not to give any ground, meant much of the first half was a disjointed affair, although the passion on display from both sides made it an enthralling contest. Carlisle had much of the early possession but were repelled by a determined Creighton defence, compounded by their own inaccuracies. At scrum Carlisle dominated and this gave them a solid platform. At lineouts both sides were secure on their own ball, although the occasional error meant it was an unreliable source of possession.

Carlisle scored first on 12 minutes. Finally securing some continuity of play and establishing themselves territorially, eventually the visitors wide defence was stretched out and fly half Jake Whittaker was able exploit the space for the first try. Jason Israel added the conversion. But from the restart it was Creighton who recovered possession and had a period in the Carlisle half from which they won a penalty. Captain and full back Keenan Foster stepped up to expertly convert a long range effort. The game then entered a period of Carlisle dominance, but the aforementioned errors alongside determined defence kept them at bay. The home side had to wait until the 35th minute to extend their lead with a try from full back Ollie Burns, on an exchange of passes finding space wide right to go over. A long range penalty by Foster on the stroke of half time just slid past the uprights leaving the score at 12-3 and Creighton were still in the game.

Some harsh words at half time from the Carlisle coaching team appeared to have the desire effect. In the second period Carlisle were much more precise in their approach and by 50 minutes added 2 further tries from Whittaker and then skipper Josh Holmes to secure the bonus point. The Creighton heads could have gone down at this point as Carlisle were beginning to hit their straps, but to their credit they never did. Another brief period of pressure in the Carlisle half and another penalty earned and converted for Creighton.

By now though the Carlisle forwards were establishing a clear dominance. Tom Graham added a fifth try on 56 minutes from the back of a driving maul, after the home side were camped in the visitors 22. A yellow card for Davidson followed against Creighton for repeated infringement who were now beginning to visibly tire. Spaces began to appear across the pitch, and as Carlisle eliminated their earlier errors, they ran in a further four tries; from Finn Mulholland, a third for Whittaker, and second for Burns, before Whittaker completed the scoring in the final minute.

In the end a deserved and comprehensive win for Carlisle who maintain an unblemished start to the season. Creighton though can take heart from a resilient first half display and can look forward to next weeks visit of Workington with real confidence. For Carlisle it’s the short trip to Wigton which will evoke memories of titanic past battles against the Green Machine. We must not be complacent.