Aldwinians 2nds 17 Keswick 2nds 7

With the 1st XV having a scheduled break, Keswick 2nd XV travelled to Aldwinians on Saturday, the team depleted by injuries but still in confident mood. Despite the deep frost the hosts had confirmed that the pitch was playable and the conditions were good, though having lost the toss Keswick found themselves playing into a low sun but with the wind behind. The referee set his stall on offside almost immediately, penalising Aldwinians as they defended the kick off, and he was consistent on this law throughout. In the cold conditions handling would prove to be an occasional challenge. A knock on followed the line out resulting from the penalty and the first scrum put in went to the home side.

Aldwinians demonstrated their scrum dominance from the beginning, their number 8 picking up and running, with the second penalty coming at the tackle, against Keswick this time, for offside. The heavier Aldwinians pack used their size to maul forward before releasing the ball, but unable to make much progress ball in hand they often resorted to kicking. With Dan Craghill proving to be sound at fullback this tactic didn’t work and Keswick made good use of the following wind to return the kicks with interest.

As the sides tested each other, mauling, running and kicking to look for weaknesses, it was scrum dominance that gave Aldwinians the edge, but their propensity to come offside helped Keswick keep the two evenly matched teams level. Attacking opportunities from line outs in the Aldwinians’ 22 faltered as Keswick were unable to capitalise on their own put in. Nevertheless, using the conditions well they made sure most of the game was being played in the home side’s half.

Deadlock was broken on 35 minutes when a penalty in the Keswick 22 for offside allowed Aldwinians to take the lead 3-0. Despite responding immediately, attacking hard and winning a penalty which was kicked to the corner and mauled from the line out, the home defence proved too solid and the half ended with no further score.

The second half started in calmer conditions as the wind had dropped and the low sun was no longer a problem but for Keswick it did not start well. Indecision allowed an Aldwinians player to be first to the ball after they kicked off and he made quick progress into the 22 where at an inevitable penalty for offside they opted for a scrum and drove forward. The number 8 picked up and crossed the line but the ball was judged to be held up and play was brought back for another penalty for offside. Again opting for a scrum Aldwinians drove forward once more and with Keswick coming round offside the referee awarded a penalty try, 10-0 after 43 minutes.

Keswick attacked again from the restart, Craghill kicking through in a chase for the line with a 3 to 1 advantage, but a player in front of the kicker playing the ball let Aldwinians off and the chance was gone. Both teams played attacking rugby but continuing scrum dominance gave the home side the upper hand from every breakdown. However, the Keswick backs showed their running ability, making good progress when in possession and running the ball out of defence.

A promising move was called back for crossing and Aldwinians kicked the penalty to the corner where from another penalty, at the line out, they opted for a scrum. Their set piece dominance worked again as they drove forward, the number 8 picking up and crossing for a converted try on 58 minutes for 17-0. Again responding quickly, Keswick used consecutive penalties to tap and run, getting almost to the line in the left corner before losing possession and allowing Aldwinians to clear. A subsequent penalty was run right but as the sun disappeared and the cold set in, cold hands made handling difficult and the ball was lost forward.

Another offside penalty just outside the Aldwinians 22 was tapped, run and chipped through, the ball bouncing back off the upright before crossing the line again for Danny Price to be first to touch it down, the try converted by Lewis Bell for 17-7 on 66 minutes. A period of good attacking and running rugby from Keswick ensued, tapping and running from penalties rather than kicking. An Aldwinians penalty failed to find touch and from deep in the Keswick half Craghill ran the ball back, passing to Nic Brinkworth who took it further upfield before the attack was stopped inches short and side entry gave Aldwinians a penalty and the chance to clear. The next Keswick attack followed a team warning against Aldwinians for repeated offending and with only minutes left an offending home player was yellow carded for the next offence.

Running the ball with an overlap chance Keswick were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when a defending player knocked the ball forward in a one-handed interception attempt and the scrum advantage was lost as the ball was knocked forward as it was picked up. The game’s final attack was by the home side but a knock forward meant the chance was gone and the game was over. This had been a very competitive match, played by 2 evenly matched teams in good spirit and was Keswick’s first on pitch defeat of the season.

Saturday sees a double header at Davidson Park with the the First XV welcoming Firwood Waterloo who sit just below mid table in the North One West League and the Second XV playing host to Southport 2nds who are currently at the bottom of NOWIRUL County Courier Services Division 2 North, whilst Keswick are 4th with 2 games in hand. Both games kick off at 2.15pm.