Keswick lost 34-24 at home to Rochdale in their rearranged North Two West game at Davidson Park.
But it was a game that the hosts could have won with four tries apiece – and two of them gifted to the opposition.
The absence of some key players and some indifferent passing and kicking were their undoing and coach Frank Hewett-Smith will be hoping those missing men will be back on Saturday.
Top of the table Anselmians visit Davidson Park having scored an average of 52 points per game and only seven against so far this season,
Against Rochdale, the hosts made a flying start when, after only five minutes, Karl Smyth charged down a clearance kick and was able to follow up and collect to score the opening try. Billy Thompson converted.
Rochdale were back on terms within four minutes following a kick to the corner. The line-out ball was gathered and the forward drive to the line produced a try which was converted.
The frantic start continued on 13 minutes when it was Rochdale’s turn to charge down a kick and follow up to score the try under the posts for a 14-7 lead.
Keswick were suffering from slow ball and inaccurate passing, allowing the Rochdale defence time to get up and put pressure on. Kicking was not as sharp as it could have been either and the absence of one or two key players clearly wasn’t helping.
On 18 minutes Rochdale, having put together a number of phases, crossed the field from side to side in the Keswick 22 until achieving an overlap and scored another converted try.
Passing from the back of the Keswick scrum was inaccurate and allowed Rochdale to kick through into the Keswick 22 where a penalty was conceded and kicked successfully for a 24-7 lead.
It got worse for Keswick as five minutes before the break they suffered again. More wayward passing from a promising break meant Rochdale were again allowed to kick through and they won the foot race.
On the line, however, an attacking player was tackled without the ball and a penalty try awarded.
Trailing 31-7 a seemingly different Keswick took the field in the second half, attacking with more determination and accuracy, putting together some good passing moves and running the ball well.
On 43 minutes a pass to Joe Bagnell on the left wing saw him ride two tackles to reach the try line in the corner for an unconverted try.
After the initial Keswick pressure Rochdale regained their ascendancy before they had a player yellow carded on 54 minutes. However, Keswick were unable to take advantage of the extra man and on 64 minutes a successful penalty took Rochdale further ahead.
On 71 minutes a cross-field kick from George Holme was fielded by Danny Craghill who, despite juggling with it, managed to retain possession long enough to touch down on the right for a try converted by Thompson.
Although a win looked out of the question, with three tries scored the possibility of a fourth for a bonus point remained and Keswick set about scoring it.
From consecutive penalties, Keswick moved upfield into the Rochdale 22 where from a line-out on the right the ball was ran across to the left corner.
Unable to get over the ball, it was recycled right for another cross-field kick by Holme. This one was intercepted by a Rochdale player but in doing so knocked forward into the hands of Andy Wallace who managed to get the ball to Bagnell who scored with the last play of the game, but again unconverted.
