Hawcoat Park 16 Keswick 22

Last Saturday’s Cumbria League One saw the top 4 teams pitted against the bottom 4 with only Keswick of the top 4 having to travel, to Hawcoat Park, Barrow. With Park’s 3 wins having all been in their last 3 home games they were in the ascendancy and a tight game was anticipated.

A damp and greasy surface greeted the players with a fine mizzle which stayed for the whole game and numbed the fingers. Hawcoat Park kicked off and set about attacking in the Keswick half, winning an early penalty for offside just outside the Keswick 22 which they failed to convert. After soaking up the early pressure an exchange of kicks moved Keswick into the Park 22 for the first time but they were unable to remain there as both sides continued to kick upfield as handling was proving challenging in the conditions. The scrums were evenly balanced in this first half, going with the put-in, as did the line-outs when the kickers were able to find touch.

As the half developed the pattern settled into an exchange of kicks, possession lost and set pieces. Despite this, both sides were intent on attacking, with a similar approach in the conditions of keeping the ball tight, tying in the opposition and then giving the backs a run. Both defences held firm though and this was a fascinating contest between well matched sides. Tight refereeing of the early breakdowns resulted in a number of penalties both ways for not releasing, not rolling away and coming offside. Eventually the deadlock was broken from a scrum to Keswick just inside the Park half. The ball was run right through Ryan Weir who was able to pass to Christian Sellars who touched down in the corner for an unconverted try, 0-5 on 15 minutes.

As the Keswick pack started to gain the upper hand they were able to drive from a line-out for Mike Tait to touch down to the right of the posts for a try, converted by Brian Storey, for 0-12 with 24 minutes gone. Promising attacks by both sides came unstuck as unnecessary penalties were given away. It was Park who were to benefit next from this, as from a line-out on the Keswick 5 metres after a penalty, Keswick didn’t compete in the air and Park were able to drive over on the second attempt for an unconverted try to bring the score back to 5-12. Keswick then went to sleep as shortly before half-time a further penalty on the Keswick 22 was converted to bring the home side closer at 8-12. This was followed almost straight after the re-start by Park running the ball through their backs to score their second try, on the right. The try was unconverted and the whistle went immediately for half-time with Park in the lead for the first time, 13-12.

From the kick-off Keswick attacked the Park line, winning a penalty 6 metres out and opting for a scrum. Despite the Park scrum coming apart under the pressure of the Keswick pack, after 2 resets possession was lost and Park cleared. Ten minutes in Keswick regained the lead from a Storey penalty, awarded for coming in at the side of a ruck, 13-15. Park attacked back, making good ground through using their heavy forwards before letting their backs attack out wide. Handling by those backs proved to be a problem with knock-ons coming to Keswick’s rescue on 2 occasions. Additionally the Keswick backs were up to the mark on their tackling and denied Park when they did look threatening. On 16 minutes though, a penalty on the Keswick 22 allowed Park to regain the lead 16-15.

Now one point down Keswick were determined to get ahead again and camped on the Hawcoat Park line. Not rolling away after the tackle cost a yellow card for Park and Keswick opted for a scrum 5 metres out. At the scrum they pushed the opposition back and won a second penalty as the scrum collapsed. A further scrum was called back for a reset after Keswick had run the ball and had an overlap, before finally a drive across the line saw the ball touched down but the try disallowed for a double movement. Remaining in the ascendancy, from a scrum for a knock-on, Keswick mauled across the try line for Carrick Wharmby to touch down and Storey to convert to give Keswick the lead again, 16-22 on 30 minutes.

Back to full strength and needing a try to retake the lead, Park upped their game and camped in the Keswick 22. A yellow card on 32 minutes reduced Keswick to 14 men and gave Park a Penalty 6 metres out. Knowing that even with a man advantage they were unlikely to win the scrums Park opted to kick for the corner hoping to maul across the line. They did so successfully but were held up and unable to release the ball so losing possession. With 2 minutes left Keswick had a second player yellow carded but despite that 2 man advantage Park were unable to get across the line again and the final whistle went with the score 16-22 to Keswick.

With Aspatria, Wigton and Cockermouth all winning at home as anticipated, Aspatria’s bonus point win has closed the gap to 6 points. With 5 games left, Keswick still have to play the teams in 2nd and 3rd places, one at home the other away, so staying at the top of the table is not a forgone conclusion.

Whilst the 1st XV were away at Hawcoat Park, the 2nd XV made the journey to play Aldwinians’ 2nd XV, who were above them in the table. In a close contest both teams scored one try, Keswick converting successfully, but with 2 penalties to add to their unconverted try, Aldwinians ran out the winners by 11-7.

On Saturday Keswick 1st XV are away to Upper Eden who they beat at home recently when, after a closely fought first half, Keswick were able to pull away late in the second half. This promises to be another close and exciting encounter. For those not wanting to travel, the 2nd XV are at home to Preston Grasshoppers 3rd XV at Davidson Park in the County Courier Services League and all support will be welcome, both games kick off at 2.15pm.