Keswick 48 - Whitehaven 15

Keswick First XV kicked off the new season in Cumbria League One with a home tie against Whitehaven on Saturday. The morning rain had disappeared leaving the pitch dry and firm. At the same time, the Second XV were entertaining Littleborough, also at home, this match in the snappily named North West County Courier Services Division 2 North.

Whitehaven kicked off and immediately won a penalty but quickly gave away penalties of their own to give Keswick good possession and field position. Defending their line well, Keswick were soon into the Whitehaven half, where they won a turnover to send the ball wide to the right for George Holme to cross for an unconverted try, 5-0 after 5 minutes. Following the restart a rampaging run by Mike Tait led to a penalty for Keswick, kicked to the corner on the left. The line-out became a rolling maul from which Jake Winter scored an unconverted try, 10-0 after 10 minutes.

Poor handling from Keswick allowed Whitehaven to progress to the line where they won a line-out and sent Luke Thompson across for a try, converted by Lee Jones, 10-7 on 20 minutes. Keswick scrum dominance ensured plenty of possession which the backs made good use of. An unsuccessful penalty kick at goal by Keswick and the subsequent 22 drop out gave Keswick field position which was spoiled by handling errors. Another penalty was kicked to the corner on 34 minutes for a line-out from which the forwards repeated their earlier success and Winter scored his second try, converted by Chris Highton for 17-7. From the restart Keswick could have scored again but for a knock forward when the line was open. However, another penalty kick to the corner and line-out was run through the backs this time, but returned to the forwards for Jamie McKenzie to score under the posts, converted by Highton for 24-7 at half time.

Keswick attacked from the start in the second half, switching direction through the backs for Holme to score his second, unconverted, try, for 29-7 just 3 minutes into the half. Whitehaven attacked back but lost possession though wining a penalty from which they attacked the Keswick line. Despite good defence, pressure told and Whitehaven crossed on 9 minutes for a forwards try by Jamie Martin which was not converted, 29-12. They maintained their pressure and attacking intent but were unable to cope with the Keswick scrum and forward dominance. A penalty 25 metres out in front of the posts was converted on 13 minutes for 29-15. After this Keswick’s dominance took over, with the backs making excellent breaks, including one of some 60 metres, but were unable to keep possession as the line beckoned. Eventually Whitehaven succumbed again and another penalty kick to the corner led to a third rolling maul try, this time scored by Dom Maguire and converted by Highton, 36-15 on 26 minutes.

On 31 minutes an excellent break down the right allowed Aaron Thompson to make a final well-timed pass to Ryan Weir who, having previously made some good but unsuccessful runs, was finally able to score a try, converted by Highton for 43-15. In the time left, backs and forwards combined once more for Mike Tait to cross for the seventh try, again unconverted. Whitehaven continued attacking, even from within their 22, but were unable to make progress and the final score was 48-15, giving Keswick a try bonus point win to open the season.

Meanwhile, the Second XV were finding things even easier against Littleborough on the adjacent pitch. In what was a fairly one-sided match they won by 71 points to 24, scoring 11 tries, with 8 converted by Paul Ireland. The successful try scorers were Louis Cornforth (2), Chris Potter (4), Will Addyman (2), Cameron Bland, Dan Sant and Matty Atkinson.

Next Saturday sees the First XV away at St Benedicts in the Cumbria League Cup and the Second XV away Tyldesley in the North West Division 2 North.