Wet and windy conditions welcomed Vale of Lune to Davidson Park on Saturday for Keswick 1st XV’s home game against the Lancaster side who had been convincing winners at their ground in October. Despite the wind and rain a crowd of well over 60 turned out to watch the match. Keswick kicked off into the wind and the difficult conditions were immediately obvious as Vale knocked forward for the first scrum. The visitors had the best of the early scrums and Keswick kicked through where they could, but the contrary wind made that tactic a challenge.

A penalty to Vale saw them run the ball before kicking to touch in the Keswick 22 but despite having the throw in Keswick were unable to clear successfully and the next line out was still in the home 22. Vale picked and drove after winning the line out, making progress round the sides until an inside pass created the space for their first try, on 8 minutes, converted for a 0-7 lead.

Keswick’s determination to run the ball when they could was clear, Ryan Weir making a good run on the right before his pass was intercepted and kicked back for Andy Wallace to return the favour. Keswick built on that, winning a penalty 25 metres out in centre field but the strength of the wind blew the ball back and Lewis Bell’s attempt fell short. Vale’s scrum dominance became more apparent as they pushed Keswick back and won a penalty as the front row lifted.

The penalty was kicked to the corner and thrown to the back where it was mauled and driven to the line for an unconverted try on 21 minutes, 0-12. Keeping the ball tight was proving to be no better a tactic than running with it as the wind and rain made handling difficult and many a promising move by both sides ended with a knock forward. Kicks were also difficult to deal with as the ball drifted on the wind but most catches were taken cleanly.

Another penalty to Keswick with just minutes of the half left resulted in another lost line out in the Vale 22, Keswick’s line out misfiring almost every time, but this time Vale knocked forward and possession was regained. The final play of the first half was an exchange of kicks, with Keswick’s second kick, to touch, miscued and fired centre field with the return luckily bouncing into touch as the defence scrambled to hold on to the ball. At 0-12 Keswick were still in the game but it was the defence, dealing with probing attacks by the larger Vale forwards to whom that score was owed.

The second half got off to a bad start; the wind had dropped and with it the advantage it had given Vale in the first half. Receiving the kick off Keswick tried to run from within the 22 but were dispossessed in the tackle and Vale ran right, gaining a penalty advantage before crossing in the right hand corner for an unconverted try and a 0-17 lead on 42 minutes. They followed this up with a good period of pressure, relieved by an interception by Joe Bagnall who started a move that made good progress until the last pass went forward and the opportunity was lost.

As the half developed the Keswick scrum got the measure of Vale’s and as their front row came up won a penalty which was tapped and run across field 3 times, gaining ground each time before winning a penalty just outside the Vale 22 in centre field. Lewis Bell stepped up and converted to put Keswick on the board at 3-17 on 48 minutes. The penalty count against Keswick began to mount as Vale searched for a fourth try and a bonus point eventually resulting in a yellow card for an offence 8 metres out as the final quarter began.

Staying in the 22 Vale attacked from the base of a scrum 7 metres out and with Keswick a man down found the overlap to score on the right, the successful conversion taking them ahead 3-24. Sensing their advantage Vale attacked from the restart but the home defence stripped the ball and won a penalty advantage, taking Keswick to the visitors’ 22 to win another penalty. This was kicked to the corner and the line out well won but with handling still difficult in the wet and muddy conditions the ball went forward and Vale regained possession. Another penalty was kicked to the corner, but with one of the starting second row having gone off injured options were limited and the line out was lost. Vale made progress to the Keswick 22 but were held up by a spirited defence and had their own player yellow carded as Keswick came back up to 15 men.

Keswick’s line out continued to misfire, the ball overthrown or lost in the air, and opportunities were missed, though much of this was down to the conditions. Vale were also affected and their final attack was also ended by mishandling and the whistle went at the end of a wet, windy and muddy contest. Although not scoring a try Keswick had held the visitors to 12 points either side of half time, a result that compares well to the 43 points conceded in October, a measure of the improvement in the players’ ability to compete at this level. In the meantime the Second XV ended their away game at bottom of the table Oldham Second XV with a comprehensive 12-67 win which sees them move up to seventh in the County Courier Services Division 2 North with 2 games in hand.

Saturday will see the First XV visit mid-table Birkenhead Park whilst the Second XV will entertain De La Salle 2nd XV at Davidson Park, kick off at 2.15. The visitors were winners by just 9 points in the away game in January so a tight game is anticipated.