IT was a mixed day for Hawcoat Park as the first team suffered a heavy defeat, but the A team rediscovered their winning habit.

Park’s first XV made the trip up the west coast to Whitehaven in the second Cumbria Shield game, but came away empty-handed after going down 66-7 to the hosts.

But Hawcoat A were in fine form in North West Intermediate League Division Four North, storming to a 40-3 victory at home to Clitheroe 2.

Debutant Lee Van Haren got the ball rolling for the Maroon & Whites with an early unconverted try after snapping up a loose ball from a line-out, followed by Jason Milby setting up Rob Shepherd for a try converted by Joe Dalton.

They proved the only scores for the first half though as Hawcoat were kept on the defensive for much of it after this, repelling Clitheroe attacks repeatedly.

The visitors kicked a penalty early in the second half to narrow the gap, but then Hawcoat cut loose when Shepherd fielded a kick and sent Dalton racing 70 metres to score a try he also converted.

That was followed by Peter Matthews starting and finishing an attack for another converted score, with even Paul Woodburn being sent to the sin-bin not enough to halt the charge.

Josh Vial sent Keenan Cotton on a break which led to Scott Garnett scoring, with Ethan Vial going over for the final try of the match.

Hawcoat A now prepare for the quarter-finals of the Robinson Brewery Shield this Saturday, where they face a trip to Preston Grasshoppers 4, who they beat 60-5 at Hawcoat Lane in November.

Meanwhile, the first team will try to dust themselves down and regroup for the home game against St Benedicts in the Cumbria Shield.