A hard-fought 10-6 win at Cockermouth clinched third place for Keswick in North Two West and completed a League double over their local rivals.
With Winnington Park losing at home, Keswick have a 12-point lead over them which, with just two games of their season left to play, means Park can’t close.
Keswick opted to play with the wind in the first half but things didn’t go as planned, giving away a very early penalty which Ed Gate put over with less than two minutes on the clock.
The early play continued to favour the home side, pushing Keswick back in the scrum to win another penalty, this time kicked to the corner. Winning the line-out they were unable to drive over themselves and eventually conceded a penalty.
Backchat to the referee cost both sides ten metres at penalties and both sides were guilty of poor discipline as the match progressed, with a yellow card for a player from each side after an altercation on 15 minutes.
With a difficult wind most line outs were thrown to the front while the wind caused difficulty for both sides’ kickers, penalties not finding touch and clearance kicks not going where they were intended.
A successful penalty kick to the corner by Cockermouth was run and with a good chance of scoring an attempted interception was judged a deliberate knock on and earned Keswick a second yellow card.
The resulting penalty from Gate allowed Cockermouth to extend their lead on 28 minutes.
The wind continued to make a passing game difficult and it was no surprise when it was a knock forward that brought the first half to an end with Cockermouth having a deserved 6-0 lead.
Keswick attacked immediately from the kick off, winning a penalty in the Cockermouth 22 which gave the home side their second yellow card of the game.
Turning down the obvious chance of three points, Keswick chose to drive for the line with the forwards and Aaron Thompson was able to get over for the try after only a minute of the half..
On 50 minutes Cockermouth had the opportunity to extend their lead but even with the wind behind, the attempted penalty from 40 metres out went wide.
Successive penalties allowed Keswick to move up-field until a tapped penalty just inside the Keswick half on 58 minutes was run right with George Holme making good progress before Ryan Weir was able to cross to score in the corner.
Keswick found passing and handling easier in the second half as the wind blew the ball towards the receiver rather than away. However, some careful kicking by Cockermouth kept the pressure on.
On 67 minutes a third yellow card was shown to Keswick for overly enthusiastic celebration and the pendulum swung the home side’s way a little.
Making the most of the opportunity Cockermouth’s forwards drove across the Keswick try line but a well-positioned referee saw that the ball had been held up and Keswick dropped out.
An exchange of kicks followed until Cockermouth attempted a 50/22 kick from just outside their own 22 but the wind took the ball across the Keswick dead ball line for a scrum to Keswick where the ball had been kicked.
On 76 minutes a tackle judged as dangerous meant a third yellow card for Cockermouth and Keswick tried to run the clock down.
However, a penalty to Cockermouth got them into the Keswick 22 where they drove from the line out but they were unable to release the ball and the scrum put in was to Keswick.
With a couple of minutes left to play Keswick kept the ball tight with the forwards, driving round the breakdown for a number of phases, all within their own 22 until the ball could be kicked to touch for the final whistle.
