Bottom of the table Orrell provided stubborn opposition for Keswick before they sneaked home 13-9.
But this was another away game where Keswick had travelled short of players and were still able to snatch victory in the closing stages to retain a very good league position.
Despite their long histories, Keswick and Orrell had never met previously so the North Two West League clash was a first.
Having had some difficulties in the past from once being giants of the northern game, Orrell now play out of St John Rigby School but despite this proved to be welcoming hosts.
The pitch is on a slope and the playing surface was wet and muddy, meaning that the ball had a low bounce when kicked and also made retaining possession in the tackle more difficult.
Orrell’s defensive qualities and ability to turn over the ball and retain possession through a number of phases belied their lowly league position. They attacked well throughout but were never able to cross the Keswick try line.
With the game controlled by a young but very capable referee, Orrell kicked off down the slope and with what little wind there was behind them.
The early exchanges were of kicks, which seemed the sensible option in the circumstances, as despite gifting the ball to the opposition it forced them either to return the kick or attack from deep on a leg-numbing surface.
After six minutes Orrell made progress into the Keswick half and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which was successfully converted.
The scrums were evenly matched in this first half and both sides coughed up the ball in the tackle or the ruck, thereby cancelling each other out.
Penalty 17 metres out
On 13 minutes Keswick were given a penalty 17 metres out and Billy Thompson levelled the scores.
Line-outs continued to be a problem for the visitors in this first half, but Keswick were able to compete successfully in the loose, despite having travelled with only 17 players for the third consecutive away match.
As the half went on Keswick sorted out their line out problems and were comfortable in ensuring possession on their own throw-in. Towards the end of the half, Keswick had the upper hand, attacking well, but facing an increasingly solid and well prepared Orrell defence.
Early in the second half handling errors and a penalty offence by Keswick allowed Orrell to get to the five-metre line, where they won a penalty which they elected to tap and run.
Keswick defended well initially but gave away another penalty under the posts which Orrell converted to retake the lead on 47 minutes.
From the back of a scrum in the Orrell 22, with the forwards driving across the line, the ball was held up and the try line drop out allowed Orrell to clear.
After a very clean first 65 minutes a couple of high tackles either way resulted in a yellow card for an Orrell player and Thompson was able to convert again for Keswick to draw level again.
That situation didn’t last long, as Orrell put together a number of phases to get into the Keswick 22 where an offside decision allowed their kicker to put them ahead again on 70 minutes.
From the restart, Keswick regained possession and again drove over the Orrell try line but the well-positioned referee quickly declared the ball held up for the second time and again Orrell’s defence had saved them and they were able to drop out to clear.
By now Keswick had ironed out most of the mistakes and were attacking well until once more the ball was lost forward in the tackle when success seemed possible.
This time, only ten metres out, Keswick drove Orrell off their own ball and their scrum collapsed for a penalty to Keswick.
With only three minutes left, and an easy kick on offer, Keswick declined the chance to draw the match and tapped for the forwards to drive for the line again.
The ball was then passed out for another drive across the line and this time replacement Stephen Moss was able to touch down.
Thompson’s boot proved reliable yet again and Keswick had snatched a last gasp win.
