Keswick 16 Middlesbrough 15

Keswick started well after defending some early Middlesbrough pressure after a poor receipt of kick off, Jamie Mackenzie carried really strongly making huge yards allowing Kieran Mewse launch the ball deep into the Middleborough half to relieve the pressure. With Keswick's line out on form scrum half Jack Thompson made a great break, feeding Dan Allaker who put Lance Lake over the try line only for the referee to adjudge him to be held up.

This sprung Middlesbrough into action and their classy back three combine really well from a quickly taken line out deep in their half to combine and set their pacey winger free to score in the corner. Middlesbrough leading 5 0 with the conversion wide out missed.

Keswick responded well and strong breaks by George Holme & Oliver Macpherson tested the Middlesbrough defence and maintained good field position.

With Keswick on a penalty advantage strong forward play allowed Kieran Mewse to be released and he beat two men to score under the posts for a well deserved try. Mewse converted and Keswick led 7 5

Again Keswick failed to deal effectively with the restart and Middlesbrough capitalised forcing a penalty which was a huge let off for Keswick when the kick at goal drifted wide.

With 30 minutes gone Keswick struck back with a good passage of play taking the game to Middlesbrough forcing an infringement in front of the posts. Mewse duly converted from 30m out to give Keswick a 10 5 advantage.

The restart once again allowed Middlesbrough to exert pressure in the Keswick half and with half time looming heroic defence held firm with try saving tackles being made by both Dan Craghill and Karl Smyth.

Once in possession Keswick acted smartly with a huge carry from Mackenzie feeding Macpherson to take Keswick back into the Middlesbrough half where they conceded a penalty. Kieran Mewse stepped up confidently to slot a difficult penalty from wide out to take Keswick into half time 13 5 up.

As expected Middlesbrough came back really strongly after break setting the tone for the second half. Relentless pressure on the Keswick line was rewarded with a catch and drive by the Middlesbrough pack who went over in the corner.
Conversion missed brought Middlesbrough back into the game at 13 10.

A rare Keswick foray into the Middlesbrough half saw a penalty awarded some 45 metres out and Mewse had no hesitation in electing to kick at goal. A finely struck penalty sailed through the posts to extent the Keswick lead to 16 10.

As was the pattern of the game Middlesbrough came steaming back and Keswick were defending constantly. Penalties increasing against Keswick and it was inevitable that Middlesbrough's strong pack released their backs to score again wide out. Middlesbrough's kicker having an off day left the score at 16 15 to Keswick.

For the final 20 minutes Keswick hung on, releasing Middlesbrough pressure just enough on occasions to give respite.

Penalties conceded by Keswick mounted and the hard working Lewis Bell was confined to the sin bin making the task of defending the last 10 minutes even harder.

But defend they did putting bodies on the line to hold the Middlesbrough onslaught. Debutant Haydn Holmes showing rapid reactions to an almost certain Middlesbrough try that unsighted the referee and allowed him to carry out of defence.

With John Addyman now yellow carded a 13 man Keswick held on by the skin of their teeth and ran the clock down to mark a very important first victory of the season.

It may not have been pretty against a class Middlesbrough side who will do well this season but the spirit and belief in this Keswick side nurtured by coaches Garry Holmes and John Crichton is coming through and all eyes are on the visit to neighbours Aspatria next week which as always has the hallmarks of a great game of Cumbrian rugby.