AFTER a three year absence, rugby union is back at Ambleside.

The newly formed Ambleside Centurions may only have been training for a month, but they gave a fantastic account of themselves in their debut game when they hosted Whitehaven at Galava Park on Saturday.

Named in honour of the town's historical ties with the Romans, who built a nearby settlement and fort, hard working officials have been busily decorating the clubhouse and upgrading the pitch and floodlights.

And after building up a squad of 25 players, they took to the field for the first time in front of a good crowd and showed plenty determination and drive in the early stages.

Whitehaven took the lead but Ambleside came back with a try from Sam Grierson.

They put together some excellent moves with Matt Middlemiss and Doug Elgar particularly eyecatching, but they could not add to their score and Whitehaven eventually ran out 17-5 winners.

However, there was plenty to build on in forthcoming fixtures which will be advised shortly.