Whitchurch 0 Keswick 60

On Saturday 6 October 2018 Keswick Rugby Club 2nd XV, with a small band of supporters, made the 4 hour journey to Whitchurch in Staffordshire to play their 2nd XV in the second round of the Robinsons Brewery Trophy. The dry pitch and light breeze made for excellent conditions, but playing against a club that manages an occasional 4th team suggested they would have strength in depth and be a serious challenge.

Whitchurch kicked off and didn’t disappoint, immediately attacking hard, with Keswick having to defend strongly. Keswick’s first attack came from a kick through into the opposition 22 on the right. From the line-out Keswick moved the ball left and Jonny Robinson barged over for an unconverted try, 0-5 after 4 minutes. From the restart Keswick attacked again immediately, winning a penalty which was kicked to the corner. This time the ball was moved left and after the ball was held up over the line, Keswick were awards a scrum 5 metres out. A take and drive, first left then back right, allowed Scott Maxwell to cross to score Keswick’s second unconverted try, for a 0-10 lead with 10 minutes gone, the conversion attempt bouncing back off the upright.

From the restart Whitchurch made a determined effort to attack, getting into the Keswick 22. However, a scrum to Keswick led to a great break by Paul Ireland who was able to pass to Danny Price for Keswick’s third try, again unconverted, to lead 0-15 site only 15 minutes. At this stage the scrums were evenly matched, the line-outs were going with the throw but the running of the Keswick backs was proving more than a measure for the home team’s defence and, with the light breeze behind them, Keswick were making the most of their opportunities to keep play in opposition half.

The next Keswick attack was brought down just short of the try line and a penalty to Whitchurch for handling on the ground allowed them to clear to touch on their 10 metre line. Unable to make progress they knocked on to give a scrum to Keswick, who broke from the back, made a couple of runs into space and gave the ball to Louis Cornforth who touched down to the right of the posts. This time Ireland was successful with his conversion and the lead extended to 0-22 with only one quarter of the game gone. Keswick had lost one player to injury but Whitchurch were having their own difficulties, with one player off injured but 2 others clearly having difficulties.

Indecision in defence by Whitchurch when they dropped a ball which they then tapped back across their own line cost them dear when they were beaten to the touchdown by Price for his second, again unconverted, on 35 minutes for a 0-27 lead. From the kick off Cornforth took the ball, ran it left and crossed for his second try, converted again by Ireland to give the visitors a very handy 0-34 half time lead.

As the second half got underway the benign conditions changed, with rain and a stronger wind favouring Whitchurch, added to which Keswick seemed to abandon their game plan to give Whitchurch the edge. For the first time the Keswick scrum was pushed back and having won a penalty Whitchurch had a throw in 10 metres from the Keswick line. However, their line-out misfired and their 10 minutes of pressure in the opposition half came to an end as Keswick cleared upfield. The weather made handling difficult for both sides and after the frenetic first half the first 25 minutes of the second were an anticlimax with no points scored or really even threatened. However, as suddenly as it had started, the weather abated and easier handling led to improved play.

It was now Keswick’s turn to put pressure on and Will Addyman made an excellent break, being unlucky to be brought down less than one metre short of the try line. Support was on hand from Jamie Mackenzie who was able to touch down under the posts, the extra 2 points being added by Ireland for a 0-41 score. Five minutes later, from a scrum on the half-way line, Josh Clark made an excellent solo run to score under the posts, allowing Ireland to convert for the fourth time, 0-48 on 30 minutes.

Possession from a Keswick scrum on the Whitchurch 5 metre line on 35 minutes was run right for George Holme to get in on the act, but for the fifth time Ireland was unable to add the extras, so the score remained 0-53. As the final open play act, a kick and chase as the final whistle was ready allowed Cornforth to celebrate with a hat-trick, this time converted by Ireland to make the final score 0-60, an emphatic win. Whitchurch were clearly no match for a determined Keswick team but they did not give up, despite suffering some injuries during the game. They were excellent hosts but Shropshire is some distance for Keswick to travel, especially when some Lancashire clubs find Cumbria too far. Having won this game, Keswick are now in the quarter finals of the Robinsons Brewery Trophy. This will be a home fixture, against New Brighton, from the Wirral, and is scheduled for Saturday 2 February 2019 at Davidson Park.

This Saturday the 1st XV, undefeated this season so far, travel to Aspatria for round 4 of the Cumbria Division One League. This should prove to be a tight game with the sides very evenly matched and all support will be welcome.