Cockermouth 2nds 5 Keswick 2nds 38

The 2021 Cumbria 2 Shield League for Keswick RFC’s 2nd XV began with an away fixture on Friday at Cockermouth. Cockermouth kicked off on a cool, dry evening and were able to retain possession until they gave away the first of too many penalties, on the Keswick 22. A second penalty after a good run upfield gave Steve Holloway a straightforward kick to put Keswick 0-3 up on 5 minutes. Attacking from the restart, Keswick were awarded another penalty for a high tackle, the first of many and used the opportunity to camp in the home side’s half, where good line out possession and straight running by the backs allowed Oli Clark to link up with Steve Moss for a try under the posts, converted by Holloway for 0-10 on 10 minutes.

Coming second best in the scrums, Keswick made good use of the boot, with kicks to the corner proving a successful option. The passing was generally crisp and tight and Ben Pepper was unlucky to be tackled into touch as he made a break on the right. On 17 minutes a line out steal saw the ball passed to Clark in the centre, who broke through to score under the posts, the conversion from Holloway successful for 0-17. It was soon Cockermouth’s turn to benefit from a poor Keswick line out and they made good progress into the Keswick half before coughing up possession and having to defend again. A clearance kick by Cockermouth was caught by Danny Craghill who ran the ball upfield before it was passed to Moss who crossed on the left before touching down by the posts, the conversion by Holloway successful again, for 0-24 on 25 minutes.

Opting for another line out at a Cockermouth one adjudged not straight, the ball found its way to Clark, who made a good break before passing to Ruairiadh Barker who scored under the posts for Holloway to add the extras once more, 0-31 on 32 minutes. Already under pressure in the scrum, Keswick lost a prop to injury, giving further advantage to Cockermouth in the tight. However, although dominant in the scrum, they could not compete with the Keswick at the line out.

The teams turned round with no further score and the second half began with sustained pressure from the home side, culminating on 44 minutes with them running the ball left to score an unconverted try, 5-31. The game settled down with the line out advantage to Keswick and the scrum advantage to Cockermouth, both sides putting in some good moves, Pepper in particular being unlucky again as he ran out of room on the wing. On 55 minutes a Cockermouth player was yellow carded but they still managed to sustain pressure, earning a penalty on the Keswick 5 metre line. Opting for a scrum they picked up at the back instead of driving to the line and were forced back to the 22 before giving away a penalty themselves.

A change in tactics saw the home side trying to benefit from their forwards’ weight advantage by tapping and running penalties but found the Keswick defence hard to defeat, losing the ball to a turnover more often than they would have liked. From one of these, the Keswick backs made a good break on the left, the ball reaching Moss who score his hat trick try in the corner, Holloway proving his kicking ability by achieving 6 out 6 attempts on goal. A last attack by Keswick was unsuccessful and the final whistle went on a good opening result for the new season, 5-38.

On Friday 10th Keswick 2nd XV are playing Aspatria Eagles at Davidson Park, kick off at 7.15pm.