After 2 successive away defeats, Keswick faced Bolton at home last Saturday. The away fixture only 6 weeks earlier had been a close match, played on a wet pitch with Bolton winning by 7-3. They arrived at Keswick on Saturday after 10 successive wins which had moved them above Keswick in the league table. The match day conditions were excellent, dry, sunny and with a light swirling breeze. A good size crowd attended, and there was some travelling support for the away team.

Keswick kicked off and immediately put pressure on the opposition. Good driving play by the forwards, combined with good running from the backs kept Bolton pinned in their own half of the field. The normally competitive Bolton scrum found itself under pressure from the well-prepared Keswick pack, able to keep possession on their own put-in but going backwards and unable to use the scrum as an attacking platform. Keswick’s determination to score tries was obvious with penalty kicks to the corner when on a couple of occasions the posts could have been within reach. A good line-out win by Carrick Wharmby 5 metres from the Bolton line promised much but, as was to happen more then once during the game, the Bolton pack were able to strip possession and kick to clear. Only twice in the first 20 minutes did Bolton get into the Keswick 22, both times from downfield kicks.

This was to change as, after surviving the Keswick pressure through a well marshalled and pro-active defence, Bolton, whose line-out was mis-firing, put together a good attacking phase to get into the Keswick 22. They came close to scoring with a chip through near the posts but were beaten to the touchdown. Shortly after they were able to run the ball left from the back of a scrum, with their right wing creating the extra man for an overlap allowing him to score an unconverted try in the left corner after 23 minutes, much against the run of play until then. Keswick responded immediately and having been awarded a penalty in the Bolton 22 ran the ball but knocked-on to lose possession in the first tackle through not releasing.

Another mistake by Keswick, a knock-on, gave possession to Bolton in the Keswick half, from which they ran the ball up the right hand touchline to within 5 metres of the try-line where they were awarded a penalty. Quickly taken, they were able to cross for a second try, again not converted to extend their lead to 0-10 after 30 minutes. For a short while it seemed Keswick would be able to score themselves, a good break and driving run by James Benson coming to nought when the final pass was knocked-on with the line beckoning. Another potential opportunity was missed before the half-time whistle went.

Keswick began the second half with some good attacking play, getting deep into the Bolton 22 and winning penalties. However, losing a line-out on the 22 allowed Bolton to run the ball to the right and almost reach the try-line before being tackled into touch. A knock forward denied Bolton a try after they’d crossed the line, the result of good defence from Keswick. Again and again the home side pack prevented the opposition from winning good attacking possession in the set scrums, eventually winning a penalty. A good run up the left wing by Christian Sellars reached the 22 after which a Bolton player was yellow carded for not releasing after the tackle. From the line-out the Keswick pack drove for the line but were stopped when a defender came in at the side leading to another penalty when a penalty try and another yellow card would not have been unreasonable. Opting for the scrum, Keswick ran the ball right but another knock-on ended another promising attack. A penalty allowed Andy Muir to put Keswick on the board 15 minutes in for 3-10.

Bolton responded immediately, a good chip into the 22 and a tackle into touch giving them a line-out on the 5 metre line that they overthrew to give Keswick the chance to clear. Another Bolton line-out in the Keswick 22 was more successful and they were able to do what Keswick had not been, to drive a rolling maul to the line for their third try, again unconverted, 3-15 after 24 minutes. Good driving play and support between forwards and backs took Keswick into the Bolton 22 but handling was proving to be their downfall as yet another knock-on relieved the pressure on the opposition. Bolton’s bonus point try came from a kick and chase down the right wing with the bounce of the ball favouring their chasing player who just beat the defender to the touch down on 35 minutes. Their kicker was having a poor day and missed one more.

Not giving up, Keswick attacked again, a good scrum win in the Bolton half allowing the backs to run the ball wide to Ryan Weir who broke through a couple of tackles to touch down to the right of the posts from some 30 metres out. Muir was unable to convert the kick, 8-20 with a couple of minutes left. A final attack by Keswick through a driving maul was stopped by a defender coming in at the side and with time running out a kick to the corner was taken. Unfortunately the throw-in was not straight, Bolton took possession from the resulting scrum and cleared to touch to end the game.

These were 2 well-matched teams, with Keswick getting the better of the set-pieces and Bolton the open play. Where Bolton backs seemed to attack straight ahead, with the opposite wing coming across to create an overlap, Keswick’s backs, generally lighter and less able to break tackles, used their footwork to run round defenders, reducing the width for the players outside then. The penalty count was well in Keswick’s favour, showing the pressure they put the opposition under, but handling errors and the occasional missed first tackle gave Bolton the edge they needed.

With 5 games left, 4 of them away, Keswick have to face three teams in the top 7, so there will be no easy run-in. Currently in 6th place, they are likely to finish in mid-table which is a good achievement for their first season after promotion. The next game is away at Eccles on Saturday and the next and last home game is against local rivals Aspatria at Davidson Park on Saturday 14 April. Currently in third place and with 2 games in hand, Aspatria could top the league, so this will be no easy fixture.