Keswick Falcons 64 University of Cumbria 10

Keswick Falcons played their first match at home and their first under lights on Wednesday evening at Davidson Park. With over 20 players available and the University youngsters having the bare minimum of 15, Falcons were able to loan players for the second half, which evened things up after the break. The muddy conditions made handling difficult and it is a credit to both sides that they were able to play as well as they did.

On a heavy pitch Falcons showed their scrummaging strength early, pushing University off the ball on their put in, to run the ball through the backs to open the scoring with a converted try under the posts, 7-0 on 5 minutes. Only 3 minutes later the backs showed their mettle again as they ran the ball right to outpace the defence and score their second try, this time unconverted.

The Falcons’ dominance was very evident as all the play was in the visitors’ half and the backs ran in their third try, the conversion attempt coming back off the upright, 17-0. From the restart a knock forward gave University the scrum put in but they were driven off and the Keswick scrum half picked up and ran 70 metres to score a converted try under the posts, 24-0. With a quarter of the game gone Falcons scored their fifth try, on the left, but from this point on declined to attempt conversions, 29-0. The sixth try followed immediately, the backs again scoring under the posts, 34-0.

Undeterred University attacked and reached the Falcons’ 22 but being dispossessed found themselves defending, though unsuccessfully as try 7 followed under the posts, 39-0. University started to flag and from the restart the Falcons’ stand off caught the ball and ran through from the home 22 to score under the posts, 44-0. University recovered and put some good phases together but the Falcons’ defence proved that it wasn’t only in attack that they were proficient. The 9th try went against the run of play and at half time it was 49-0.

The second half started with some 4 Falcons playing for University and, with some sympathetic refereeing, the game became more even. Falcons scored again on 50 minutes, 54-0 and University responded well, getting to the home 5 metre line before being stopped. On 65 minutes University converted pressure to points, 54-5 with no conversion attempt. A further attack by Falcons took the score to 59-5 but University responded with an excellent run before losing possession. They managed one more score to get to 59-10, but on 75 minutes the final try was scored by Falcons from a University knock on and the whistle went on a Falcons win, 64-10.

On Saturday there is no game at Davidson Park and the Second XV are away at Windermere for a 3pm kick off.