Keswick 2nds 0 Aspatria 2nds 19

Keswick 2nds welcomed Aspatria 2nds to Davidson Park for a floodlit match on Friday last. A shortage of front row players meant that Aspatria lent 2 props to Keswick so that the first half could go ahead with contested scrums. As one of the borrowed props left the field at half time, the second half's scrums were uncontested.

The early stages were played in the Aspatria half and were evenly matched except for the scrums, where Aspatria had an advantage, but neither side seemed able to capitalise on the other's errors. The first meaningful attack, 15 minutes in, came when Aspatria broke on the left, reaching the Keswick 22 with an overlap, but somehow managing to give away a penalty. Keswick responded quickly and kicked through into the Aspatria 22 where some 5 metres out the Aspatria defender tackled the Keswick player before he had been able to collect the ball and cross to score. However, the referee saw it differently and awarded a scrum to the visitors for a knock-on.

Aspatria made their way up the left hand side, winning a couple of penalties, before being able to break through from a line out on 21 minutes for a converted try, 0-7. Again Keswick responded and a clearance kick was run back by Danny Craghill who kicked through, winning the chase but unable to capitalise and Aspatria cleared. Neither side seemed able to put more than a couple of phases together and no close support meant an attack by Danny Price ended when the kick ahead ended with ball going dead.

Just before half time a penalty allowed Aspatria to tap and run, then do so again on the Keswick 22, keeping the ball tight before running the ball right and gaining another penalty. This time the visitors' pack were able to drive over and score a converted try under the posts for a 0-14 half time score.

Keswick found themselves under pressure from the start but a stripped ball by Price inside the Keswick 22 was passed to Craghill who linked with David Reay who made an excellent break before being stopped. A high tackle meant a yellow card against Aspatria as indiscipline and errors meant that play stayed mostly in the middle of the field. A second yellow card on 62 minutes for Aspatria followed but even outnumbered and with uncontested scrums, Aspatria were able to hold their own in defence. A line out from a penalty kicked to the corner by Aspatria was stopped but another penalty was awarded and Aspatria were able to run the ball right to score on the right after 69 minutes, the conversion attempt unsuccessful for 0-19.

Keswick camped in the Aspatria 22 but were unable to break through, not surprising with the absence of a qualified front row, but some decisions, such as keeping the ball tight when it would have been better to run it wide, didn't help. With just a few minutes left foul play by an Aspatria player resulted in a red card . Keswick were still unable to benefit and the game ended 0-19. There is no doubt that not having a front row cost Keswick in the chance to win match and it is hoped that a settled front row can be found soon.