Cup Win For Keswick

Saturday saw Keswick First XV host their Cumbria Cup game against Cockermouth and the Second XV face Penrith Second XV in a last pre-season friendly match. After the fairly constant rain it was good to see that we had a dry spell for the game. The marquee on the patio was put to good use as Ladies’ Day attracted a few more spectators to the game. Thank you to CBA Events for sponsoring the match.

Early signs were promising for Keswick as the first scrum was won easily, the pack forcing Cockermouth back and releasing Ryan Weir for a good run on the left. An early penalty for collapsing the scrum whilst pushing Cockermouth back allowed them to clear and make a good attack of their own. However they kicked away possession which allowed fullback Lewis Plackett to release Harry Vaillant for a good run back and gain a penalty which was kicked to the corner. Carrick Wharmby took a good line-out catch and the forwards drove over on 8 minutes for an unconverted try by Joe Quail, 5-0.

Cockermouth responded immediately, catching Keswick offside in front of the posts but the attempt on goal by Ed Gate drifted wide. The next attack put the home side under pressure and despite having the put in to the scrum 10 metres from their own line, Keswick were pushed off but regained possession and cleared to touch. From then on scrums went with the put in and a period of pressure by Cockermouth saw them gain another penalty centre field which Gate converted to close the gap on 20 minutes to 5-3.

Determined not to let Cockermouth seize the initiative, just 3 minutes later Keswick won a line-out on the opposition 22 and put the ball through the backs for Louis Cornforth to run in on the left from 30 metres, touching down under the posts, the try converted by Plackett for 12-3. The next attack from Keswick ended with an attempted interception deemed a deliberate knock-on and the penalty saw Keswick throw in to the line-out left side on the Cockermouth 22. The ball was quickly passed along the backs until Vaillant opted to kick through rather than use the players outside him and the bounce of the ball went his way as he gathered and crossed to score on 27 minutes, converted by Plackett for a 19-3 lead.

Cockermouth quickly regrouped and with a gap to close opted to run the ball from their next penalty on the Keswick 22 rather than take 3 points. The Keswick defence held firm though and the attack ended in touch with Cockermouth losing possession. As the half ran down a Cockermouth kick from a scrum on the half way line was caught on the home 22 by Weir who evaded the chasing players and 2 tackles to score an unconverted try on 37 minutes to extend the lead to 24-3. The lead did not reflect the game though, as the teams were evenly matched in attack, the difference being the Keswick defence, which was more able to neutralise the visitors’ thrusts than vice versa. In the couple of minutes left to the half time whistle Keswick won and drove 2 more line-outs to get within a couple of metres of the Cockermouth try line but this time the defence held and 24-3 was the half time score.

As the second half developed the sides’ tactics cancelled each other out, scrums going with put in and most of the play between the 22s. On 11 minutes the Cockermouth backs found a way round the Keswick defence, running the ball right from a scrum on the half way line for Ben Irving to score on the right, converted by Gate for 24-10. Keswick seemed to go to sleep as only 2 minutes later some scrappy play saw Cockermouth take advantage to score their second try, this time by Adam Brough, unconverted, for 24-15.

That closing of the gap saw Keswick start to reassert themselves, progressing into the Cockermouth 22 for almost the first time since half time. A penalty for a high tackle in mid field put Keswick back into the away side 22 but a promising move by the backs from the line-out was ended by crossing and Cockermouth cleared. Another promising attack was stopped just short and the ball run right but knocked on with the line in sight for a scrum to Cockermouth on their 5 metre line. Some injuries interrupted play a couple of times after 30 minutes but it was Keswick who coped the better, Weir collecting a Cockermouth penalty which he ran back and passed to Mike Tait, the ball ending with George Holme who crossed on the right on 34 minutes for an unconverted try, 29-15.

Not satisfied with a 14 point lead Keswick continued to attack, with the final score coming from a scrum. Picked up at the back by Aaron Thompson 30 metres out he ran right and passed to Lewis Bell who ran through to score under the posts, converted by Plackett, for 36-15. Cockermouth could have reduced the deficit shortly after the restart but with a 2-man overlap their centre opted to kick through, the ball running into touch, allowing Keswick to gain possession and clear to touch for the final whistle.

Meanwhile, the Second XV were making good progress against their opposition from Penrith. Although a pre-season friendly, there is always honour at stake and a home win by 38-22 is a good score to end the pre-season friendly matches with. Try scorers for Keswick were Olly Anderton who scored 2, and one each for Danny Price, Chris Potter, Lance Lake and Will Addyman. Lewis Thompson kicked 4 conversions.

Saturday sees the First XV play their first game in North One West away at Stockport, which will be a challenging game to start the new league season. For those not wanting to travel, the Second XV also start their league season, with a home game at Davidson Park against West Park St Helens 2nd XV, kick off at 3pm.