Keswick Falcons were 22-17 winners against Blaydon Red Kites as they gained revenge for a defeat there two weeks ago.
Many of the Falcons players had spent the weekend in Edinburgh where they had watched England overcome Scotland.
At the first scrum the signs were ominous as they were pushed off the ball on their own put in. However, a couple of penalties soon got Falcons to five metres from the visitors’ try line though they were unable to cross it.
Falcons kept the pressure up and a line out steal on 15 minutes just outside the Kites’ 22 was passed along the line to Stacey Faunch who scored the game’s first unconverted try.
When the Kites knocked-on under their posts some good passing and running kept Keswick in the opposition 22, though they needed a quick heel in the scrums where they were coming off second best.
A strip in the tackle on 30 minutes gave possession to Falcons who ran the ball right to Lilly Hodgson. She was able to outpace the defence on the right and ran round to touch down under the posts.
An excellent catch at the restart by Cheska Horsburgh was run upfield before the ball was moved to Hodgson who ran through to score her second try on 34 minutes. This time she converted her own try and it remained 17-0 until half-time.
Falcons ran the ball back from the restart, protecting it well and getting back into the opposition half for a line-out to the visitors.
Kites won the line-out and ran the ball but were dispossessed in the tackle. Hodgson was again given the ball and she ran through for her hat- trick try and a comfortable 22-0 lead.
However, the Kites seemed to wake-they up after this and despite excellent crisp passing by Falcons, won some penalties that pushed the home side back.
A line-out penalty 15 metres out kept Kites on the attack and further penalties were tapped and run, before eventually the visitors’ forwards were able to cross the line on 55 minutes.
This second half was spent mostly in the Falcons’ half of the field where, having shown their attacking abilities in the first half, they now had to show they could defend as well.
Slick handling and passing well out of the tackle gave Kites an advantage and from a scrum 10 metres out on 73 minutes they ran the ball right to score in the corner.
From the restart Kites ran the ball back, where with penalty advantage they were able score their third try, and convert it, to be only five points behind as the clock ran down.
Seemingly galvanised, Falcons upped their game and attacked into the Kites’ half, forcing a knock forward in the tackle to regain possession and attack on the left.
A 30-metre run from the back of a retreating scrum took play into the visitors’ 22 where a final penalty allowed Falcons to tap and kick to touch to end the game.
Sponsor Katie Airey from Sally’s Cottages, Keswick, had presented new sponsored shirts to Leanne Grave, the Falcons’ captain before this excellent team performance.
Liz Weightman, honorary secretary, said: “Women’s rugby is growing so fast and gives such a positive message that we are delighted that Sally’s Cottages, a company built by a woman, have supported us in this way.”
