Keswick 12 Warrington 6

Keswick First XV’s bottom of the table clash with Warrington began with one minute’s silence in memory of James Addyman, a gesture matched at a number of clubs in Cumbria and also further afield, Corstorphine In Edinburgh being one. The esteem in which James was held was clear to all who attended.

Warrington’s kick off was mauled by Keswick before being kicked through for Warrington to run it back. Knocked forward by Keswick in the tackle the first scrum put in was to the visitors and after the difficulties of the previous Saturday it was good to see the scrum being contested fairly evenly. Warrington showed their intent by running the ball through the backs but the quick Keswick defence soon had them in their own half where the next scrum put in was Keswick’s.

The first chance of points came shortly afterwards when an offside against Warrington on their 10 metre line gave a kicking opportunity but the ball drifted right and the scores stayed level on nil. The 2 sides were proving to be well matched, attacking in a similar manner and also defending well but as Keswick were having the best of the first few minutes both teams were finding ball retention more difficult than they would have liked. The Keswick scrum then came under pressure, being wheeled left but still able to make good use of the ball, kicking for the corner.

After defending well, Warrington had to pull out all the stops as Stephen Moss picked up at a retreating scrum, passed to Matty Roper, who got the ball to Ryan Weir who was tackled into touch just short in the right hand corner. Warrington were unable to make progress out of their half and found themselves defending again as Keswick mauled from a line out before running the ball left only to find the defence holding firm against them again.

On 11 minutes Keswick forwards made a number of pick and drives round the ruck but, unable to make progress, Roper passed the ball to George Holme who, from 7 metres out powered through 3 tacklers to touch down, the try converted by Paul Ireland for a 7-0 lead. The newly installed electronic scoreboard was able to register the first score and it was for Keswick, who found themselves in the lead for the first time this season. A penalty to Warrington got them into the Keswick half for the first time in the match since the kick off but good defence and clearing kicks by Keswick meant that each time they lost possession they had to attack again from their own half.

Not rolling away in the tackle cost Keswick as Warrington kicked for the corner and attacked from the line out. Excellent tackling, from Harry Vaillant amongst others, pushed the visitors back into their own half but another penalty lead to a scrum to Warrington on the Keswick 5 metre line. Despite losing the scrum, a good tackle and counter-ruck gave possession back to Keswick and the danger passed. Poor handling and other errors kept Warrington too close to the Keswick line for comfort and a kick through and chase was shepherded out beyond the dead ball line inches ahead of the chasing Warrington players.

An exchange of kicks and a good run by Joe Bagnall saw Weir and Holme combining but the latter was pushed into touch just short for a line out to Warrington. Winning possession Joe Quail was stopped just short and the recycled ball was then carried over the try line but the well positioned referee adjudged the ball held up and a scrum followed. Run right to Weir from the scrum Keswick were again foiled by a good defence as he was outnumbered and squeezed into touch again. Whilst Warrington were having difficulties in attack their defence was amongst the best Keswick had faced this season and the half ended with Keswick in the lead, 7-0.

The second half started with Keswick kicking deep but the first penalty of the half allowed Warrington to escape to the half way line. As Warrington then gave away a penalty Keswick opted to kick for goal, but with kicker Ireland off the attempt landed just short and Keswick attacked the visitors’ line again. Resorting to a kicking game did Keswick few favours as Warrington’s game improved and their backs put together some good runs. Only a superb tackle from Roper when facing a 2 man overlap prevented a certain Warrington try and they spent the first 10 minutes of the half pressuring Keswick who saw the penalty count against increasing.

On 49 minutes a penalty centre field was converted by Warrington to reduce the deficit to 7-3 as they put in some good attacks. Having survived the pressure for the loss of only 3 points it was now Keswick’s turn to attack again as the backs put together some good moves, the most promising ending as the ball was passed behind the supporting players and went into touch. The game then ebbed and flowed as both sides attacked until a handling error gifted possession to the opposition. Box kicking to clear wasn’t working well for Keswick but a series of penalties against Warrington allowed Keswick to move from their own 22 to the visitors’.

The game hotted up in the last 10 minutes as Keswick strove to open a bigger gap and Warrington tried to close it. A clearance kick by the visitors was run back until a deliberate knock forward allowed Keswick to kick to the corner. The ball was caught in the line out by Christian Sellars and passed straight to James Hinkley running round from the front who took 3 tacklers with him in a well prepared move to cross for the game’s second try, unconverted to take Keswick 12-3 up on 73 minutes.

In their efforts to score again Warrington got too keen and on 75 minutes had a player yellow carded for tackling a catcher in the air. Foul play by Keswick shortly afterwards evened things up as a Keswick player was also yellow carded and Warrington took the penalty opportunity to kick deep. Another penalty, for offside inside the 22, was converted by Warrington for 12-6 and from the restart another penalty to Warrington brought them back into the Keswick 22 as the home supporters looked on nervously. A converted try would change the lead and you only need to be ahead when the final whistle goes. A tip tackle penalty meant a line out to Warrington 5 metres out and despite some excellent running by their backs they were unable to breach the Keswick defence and a home win, the first win of the season, went Keswick’s way, to lift them off the bottom with 5 points.

The Second XV meanwhile had travelled to Leigh, to play their second XV, who were one place above them, but having played 2 more games. Keswick’s only loss this season was on paper, unable to produce a team for an away fixture, meaning a technical 0-5 defeat. Leigh were to find that home advantage meant nothing as Keswick ran out winners by 11 points, the final score being 10-21.

On Saturday the First XV will be at Bowdon in south Manchester, to play the team one place above them in the league, but who have one game in hand. The Second XV currently have no fixture.