Keswick moved third in North Two West with an important 19-14 home victory over Warrington.
The Davidson Park pitch had dried out just enough for the game against the side only two places below them in the table.
Early on Keswick gave away a penalty and then successfully defended an attacking line out on their five-metre line.
The first scrum went Keswick’s way but the kick to clear missed touch and Warrington ran the ball back into the home half.
The early play indicated that Keswick had the advantage in the set pieces, but came second to Warrington in the loose.
Good use of the 50/22 rule by Billy Thompson, and a penalty at the subsequent line-out, gave Keswick a good attacking platform until a knock forward and scrum dominance led to another penalty kick to the corner.
Unable to win the forward drive to the line Keswick ran the ball, unsuccessfully, but won another penalty though once more were unable to convert possession and position into points.
After a quarter of the game had gone, Warrington’s backs ran the ball and were able to gain an overlap which they took advantage of to score a converted try.
On 25 minutes a penalty kick at goal by Keswick slid to the right of the posts and on the next such opportunity the ball was kicked to the corner instead.
Driving for the line ended with lost possession and Warrington kicked downfield where the ball was caught and run back.
Good interplay between backs and forwards on 32 minutes ended when James Hinkley added an unconverted try to his season’s total.
Late in the half Jack Thompson put in an excellent cross field kick to Chris Potter who just failed to get into the left hand corner.
This was a closely contested game between two well matched sides with strong and effective defences.
In the 48th minute the Warrington kicker missed his second attempt at a penalty.
Four minutes later Keswick were in front. A line-out take from a penalty kick to touch was run by the forwards. Jamie Mckenzie and Hinkley combined well before Mckenzie crossed to touch down. Billy Thompson converted.
It was one of the most exciting games of the season and with three quarters of the game gone, a Keswick attack broke down on the Warrington 22.
The visitors were able to run the ball back and with the Keswick defence bunched on their left, there was a large gap on the right, which gave Warrington a five-man overlap.
They drew level with the try and a fine conversion put them back in front.
The lead didn’t last long as they gave away a penalty resulting in a Keswick attacking line-out just inside the visitors’ 22.
Caught by Karl Smyth the ball was given to Hinkley who put in a bullocking charge for the line, brushing off defenders until he got in and give Keswick the lead back. Billy Thompson’s conversion was timed at 62 minutes.
Both sides continued to attack and under pressure Warrington gave away more penalties.
However, despite line-out ascendancy and normally having the edge in the scrum, Keswick were unable to turn the pressure into more points, for which much credit must go to the Warrington defence.
