With Whitehaven having announced during the week that they have withdrawn from the League Cup to concentrate on the League itself, where they are in the bottom half, Keswick 1st XV’s home game against them on Saturday was cancelled. The 2nd XV’s opposition, West Park (St Helens), had no such concerns and they brought a full side for their County Courier Services League match. West Park were one place above Keswick but had played one more match so these were, on paper, 2 evenly matched sides, as it was to prove in practice.

In identical playing conditions to the previous week, West Park kicked off with the breeze, quickly winning a penalty which they kicked to the corner but which went dead for a scrum allowing Keswick to clear. The early pressure came from Park whose attack proved effective, using their larger forwards to good effect before releasing their lively backs to run the ball. Keswick stayed in the game with some effective attacks of their own, but eventually came offside to allow Park to take the lead with a successfully penalty by Luke McMahon, 0-3 on 11 minutes. After the early ascendancy by Park, the Keswick attack gained some rhythm and field position to camp in the opposition 22, being unlucky not to be awarded their own penalty for an attempted interception in front of the posts.

Both sides found retaining possession difficult, either knocking forward or losing possession in the tackle. Both proved effective at the line-out, retaining the ball on their own throw-in and Keswick nearly benefitted from one, running the ball across field from inside the Park 22 but ultimately finding touch on the opposite side. The home team maul attack from the subsequent line-out was held up by Park and Keswick were outdone by numbers on the right as they tried to run in to the corner. It was then Park’s turn to get into the Keswick 22, kicking to the corner, but losing possession for Keswick to clear, only to knock forward as they attacked again from the Keswick clearing kick.

Another attack by Park ended with a penalty for not releasing but the penalty kick failed to find touch, which was indicative of the problems both sides were having with ball retention. Keswick’s backs were faster and the pack had the upper hand in the scrums but together they could not quite gain the necessary advantage to put points on the scoreboard. On 27 minutes Park made another attack into the Keswick half, winning a penalty for offside just outside the 22, successfully converted by McMahon to double the lead to 0-6. Keswick were asleep at the restart but were saved by Park kicking the ball dead and opted for a scrum under law 21.12.b where the ball was kicked. Keswick responded by kicking through to the Park try line but were beaten to the touch down. The end to end play continued with Park immediately getting back into the Keswick 22, their heavy forwards being held out by a determined defence on the line, forcing them to use their backs who knocked forward. The final attack of the half was by Keswick but the Park defence, like Keswick’s was solid and at half time the score remained 0-6 to the visitors.

Keswick kicked off deep and Park reciprocated, giving Keswick possession again. Both sides started as they had finished, determined to attack at every opportunity but finding retaining possession a problem and giving away unnecessary penalties when prospects looked promising. A succession of penalties got Keswick to the Park 22 where they chose to kick for goal and Paul Ireland brought the score to 3-6 with only 9 minutes of the half gone. Too many penalties interrupted promising attacks by both sides in what was proving to be a well fought match between 2 very equal sides. A second opportunity to kick for goal was unsuccessful with the ball going left and Park were able to clear. However, on 20 minutes another opportunity was successful, Ireland converting again to bring the scores level at 6-6. A fourth attempt was unsuccessful but an exchange of kicks from hand brought Keswick to a line-out on the Park 5 metre line. Possession went with the throw and Park were able to clear the danger. Handling continued to be a deciding factor with both sides seemingly finding it easier to lose possession than retain it.

From a scrum on the half-way Keswick again kicked for the corner, as the pressure on Park was building, but again possession stayed with the throw and they were able to clear once more. The respite was only temporary until in the final play of the game, Keswick were awarded a scrum 5 metres from the Park line, 5 in from touch. Unable to drive the opposition back in the scrum, the ball was run to the blind side but with the attacker forced into touch the final whistle went on a very fair 6-6 draw. Despite there being no tries scored, both sides had come close, with the defences probably proving more effective than the attacks, creating a gripping end-to-end game which kept the spectators entertained throughout.

Both Keswick teams are away on Saturday. The 1st XV resume their league challenge away at Hawcoat Park who, despite being in the bottom half of the table, are a high scoring side with a point to prove; every team steps up a gear when playing the league leaders. Meanwhile, the 2nd XV travel to Aldwinians, 2 places above them in the league, for what will be another challenging match. All support is welcome.