Keswick put up a stirring effort against North Two West leaders Anselmians before going under 17-13 at Davidson Park.
The visitors had travelled to the Lakes with a record of five wins, earning five bonus points at an average of 52 points per game. They had also conceded only one try.
Although a loss is always disappointing, the only teams Keswick have lost to this season are the top three in the league and then by an average of only 6 points.
However, this was a game Keswick could have won and the prospects must be good for the remainder of the season.
Early indications were that the teams were evenly matched, though with the visitors’ defensive ability slightly better than Keswick’s as the odd missed tackle showed.
A Keswick line out 15 metres from their own line was caught and driven before the ball was passed back to be kicked clear. Quickly up, Anselmians charged the kick down and won the race to the line for the converted try after nine minutes.
Keswick attacked from the re-start with George Holme making a good run and Chris Potter taking it further forward before being stopped. At the breakdown an altercation resulted in a yellow card for a visiting player.
Keswick were up against a strong defence but eventually the pressure told and a penalty on 25 minutes was converted by Billy Thompson.
The hosts kept possession well but struggled to cross the gain line as the opposition defence was quick and effective.
On 35 minutes indiscipline meant Anselmians had a second player yellow carded but only two minutes later Keswick failed to release in a tackle and a successful penalty extended the lead to 3-10. It stayed that way to the break.
Into the second-half and Keswick’s scrum was proving too powerful for the visitors. Fom half way they pushed them back 20 metres, eventually winning a penalty which was converted by Thompson on 47 minutes.
Indiscipline cost Anselmians again as they earned their third yellow card of the game.
Awarded a penalty five metres out and with Anselmians a man short and under pressure in the scrums, Keswick opted for a scrum but were penalised for not straight and another opportunity was lost.
On 62 minutes the Keswick defence held firm at the expense of a penalty 5 metres out.
Anselmians drove from their line-out and, unable to make progress with their pack, ran the ball through the backs for their second try, also converted, for a lead of 17-6.
Anselmians fourth yellow card soon followed before an excellent kick through by Potter was chased down for Harry Vaillant to touch down in the corner for Keswick’s first try, excellently converted by Thompson on 72 minutes for 13-17 and into losing bonus point territory.
Two successive penalties got Keswick within striking range of the Anselmians line but three successive penalties to the visitors reversed the progress and a not straight at their line-out by Anselmians only ten metres out from Keswick’s line ended the game.
