Keswick’s long journey to Anselmians on the Wirral did not provide the type of result the team had hoped for as they crashed to a 50-0 defeat.
The hosts have now won all 15 games in North Two West and are 17 points clear, clearly set to land the title.
This was one of those occasions that winning the toss was going to give an advantage and when Anselmians did so Keswick found themselves facing into a low sun and competing against a strong wind.
When Keswick attacked from their own half they knocked on and Anselmians were able to kick through. The receiving player knocked on when collecting the kick and Anselmians were able to pick up and cross for a converted try on five minutes.
Keswick’s defence was fairly sound in the early stages but on 16 minutes Anselmians kicked a high ball into their 22. The defending player lost sight of it in the sun and it bounced into the hands of an opposition player who was able to cross for another converted try.
It was clear that Anselmians deserved their position at the top of the league as they were a better side than the one that had visited Keswick in October.
However, in the scrum it did not go all their way, being pushed off the ball on their put in and giving away a penalty. Attempting to attack again, Keswick were penalised for not releasing and the ball was kicked to the corner.
With their forward drive from the line-out unsuccessful, Anselmians ran the ball right for an unconverted try on 23 minutes.
The home side was reduced to 14 men when the referee blew for what appeared to be the number eight breaking early. He then showed a yellow card to one of their props, who left the field, only to be called straight back on to be shown a second yellow card and a red, with the referee’s signal suggesting that there had been a punch.
Keswick drove from the line-out before running the ball but were unsuccessful and were brought back for another scrum after the referee had spoken to both captains.
Despite a free-kick and another two penalties, Keswick were unable to break the Anselmians’ defence, though that defence cost the home side another yellow card. Some further attacks from close range by Keswick were unsuccessful and the half-time whistle left them trailing 19-0.
Anselmians scored their bonus point try on 43 minutes when a kick to the corner was held up by the wind and stayed in play to be kicked back by Keswick. The ball was again caught by the wind and caught Keswick unprepared for Anselmians to score their fourth try.
Play then settled with neither side gaining an advantage until a yellow card for Keswick on 59 minutes gave Anselmians the extra space and drive they needed, crossing on 64 minutes for another converted try.
Immediately afterwards they struck again, with a corner kick to their winger allowing him in for an unconverted try.
Now in the ascendancy, Anselmians had found their rhythm and used their powerful centres and number eight to break the gain line, something Keswick had found difficult to do all game, to cross near the posts for a successfully converted try.
Keswick didn’t give up and attacked strongly but turn over of the ball and a good break put them on the defensive before a handling error allowed the home side to reach 50 points with a final converted try.
The final episode of what had been an occasionally bad-tempered game came just before the final whistle when a brawl in centre-field resulted in two red cards, one for each side.
