A 10-try demolition of Copeland rivals Whitehaven helped St Benedict’s to double delight.

Four tries from number eight Steven Nelson and a hat-trick from centre Kurt Maudling handed the Saints the Cumbria Cup for the second year in a row.

Other scores came from man of the match Gavin Maudling, lively fullback Mike Hawley and centre Kyle Hiddleston.

Fly half Dan Rayson kicked seven conversions as St Benedict’s ran out 64-29 winners.

The cup success tops off a fantastic season for the club after they finished top of the North Lancs/Cumbria league and reached the final of the RFU Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.

Club secretary Stephen Howse was delighted with his side’s performance and the players’ achievements this season.

He said: “We knew it had been a long season and we asked them for one last effort.

“We’re chuffed as a club. The first XV have won the North/Lancs Cumbria and this and then the second XV have won the shield and the vase.

“Both teams have done a league and cup double so it has been absolutely brilliant.”

Whitehaven took the lead when Steven McConnell knocked over an early penalty but St Benedict’s wrestled control with three quickfire tries. Nelson wrapped up his hat-trick with less than half an hour on the clock and two more tries sent the league champions in to half time leading 42-17. 

The trailing team started the second half stronger but could only produce one score for all their pressure.

St Benedict’s finished the game off with four more tries, including two from hat-trick hero Kurt Maudling.

The final say went to Whitehaven but it was their opponents who were convincing winners.

Whitehaven’s tries came from Clayton Sutton, Liam Tunstall, Callum Jennings and Harrison Riley. Steven McConnell kicked three conversions.

“We played well in patches, it has been a long, hard season but it’s been an absolutely brilliant season,” said the St Benedict’s secretary.

“Basically, I think we blew them away in the first 20 or 25 minutes. We took our foot off the pedal a bit, they came back into it so we give them credit for that. But I think we just had a bit too much.”

Howse was also full of praise for the club’s coaches – Ian McQuire and Steven Wood. He said: “I can’t fault the lads for their effort all season, the coaches have done a brilliant job.

“The effort in training and applying themselves in games has been second to none; we couldn’t have asked for better.”