Percy Park 31 Keswick 12

Percy Park 31 Keswick 12

Keswick travelled to Percy Park who were riding high as unbeaten league leaders with no uncertainty of the challenge that lay before them.

Keswick's start was phenomenal, confident and assured they took the game to Percy Park and fully dominated the opening exchanges. Strong lineouts and scrummage gave the platform for decisive back play that really took the game to the league leaders.

Keswick had all the field position for the first 15 minutes and it was only a penalty that relieved the pressure on Park and allowed them to venture into the Keswick half.

Again it was somewhat against the run of play when Percy park opened the scoring. Their huge pack just getting the upper hand whist John Addyman was having treatment for a blood injury releasing their super quick backs to score in the corner.

Undeterred Keswick hit back soon after the restart with good offensive tackling securing the ball in the Park half, Keswick built their response patiently with great work by the forwards setting Ryan Weir on a half break who fed Carl Smyth to score. Steve Holloway converted and Keswick took the lead 7 5

Percy Park came back strongly and Keswick defended resolutely, good tactical kicking and superb tackling again gave the league leaders a tough time. Forcing Park errors deep in the Keswick half George Holme collected the ball and made a fantastic break beating numerous defenders to release Danny Price who sprinted 30 metres to score in the corner for an unconverted try, 12 5 Keswick.

As expected Percy Park came back strongly and some Keswick indiscipline allowed them to pressure the Keswick line.
this led to the influential Park 10 putting a fantastic cross field kick into the wingers hands for him to score in the corner, which was converted to level the tie at 12 12.

Unfortunately Keswick could not hold the class Park side out before half time as a catch and drive from their monstrous pack gave them a 17 12 lead at the break.

Despite Percy Park's obvious class Keswick were not overwhelmed but an injury to the influential Marky Trow meant a pack re shuffle.

Keswick continued to press but Park started to show their class with their experienced pack providing great ball to allow fast backs to spread the game and score wide out for a converted try to spread the game to 24 12

Once again Keswick responded and had huge elements of the possession but try as they may they could not break the resolute Park defence

Losing the Olly Macpherson to a knock was an additional challenge for Keswick as he had been superb in both attack and defence and Park used the possession they had to spread the game wide once again to score a well worked back line try to extend their lead to 31 12

Keswick did not give up and every player gave their all to try and get something from the game, something they richly deserved from their performance against a class opposition who will be looking to win this league.