Whitehaven under-10s hosted Cockermouth and Millom at the Playground in their first home fixtures of the season.

Last season it often proved to be a tight affair when the Sharks welcomed visitors and Sunday was no different with all three teams producing fantastic displays of defence and attack.

A total of 36 players took part in the event, with each team playing three rounds of 15-minute matches in perfect conditions despite the cold.

In the first round of fixtures Whitehaven firsts faced Cockermouth and Whitehaven seconds faced Millom.

Both fixtures were very physical, with Cockermouth proving too good and the Sharks’ lacklustre defence led to a one-sided tie.

In the other game it was end-to-end stuff with both teams performing at a high standard as the Sharks trailed at the half but turned things around to beat a well-drilled Millom side.

In the second round Cockermouth and Millom swapped pitches to face the other Sharks team.

Following their defeats in the previous matches both Whitehaven firsts and Millom were trying to avenge their previous results and there were so many tries that it was hard to keep up with the score but it was believed to have ended in a draw.

The two winning teams from the first round also faced each other and from the outset Cockermouth were very dominant around the ruck which Haven needed to improve on. Once again Haven were down at the half but rallied to edge another close game.

In the final round of fixtures both Haven teams faced each other for a training match while Cockermouth faced Millom in a tight game which was too close to call.

Players wore odd socks during the event to mark Anti-Bullying Week and following the games the teams posed for a photograph holding an Anti-Bullying Week banner.

The under 10s are sponsored by Shepley Engineers Ltd, Whitehaven Lions and Clark’s Whitehaven.

Rugby training for the under-nines and under-10s takes place every Wednesday night from 6pm at St Benedict’s School’s sports hall.