After a splendid win over Middlesbrough a week earlier Keswick needed to back it up against visiting South Shields Westoe to improve their chances of staying in Regional 2 North.
Both teams needed match winning points to help stave off a relegation threat, so there was a lot at stake and the home was not to be disappointed as Keswick scored a valuable 29-19 victory.
The opening ten minutes proved tentative, with both teams testing each other out for potential areas of weakness.
South Shields finally managed a first incursion into Keswick’s 22-metre area, gaining quick possession from a break down. Their stand-off delivered a very accurate cross kick straight
Keswick responded with excellent forward pressure, whilst the home side backs started to move the ball with intent, looking far more dangerous than their opponents.
South Shields, soon under pressure, attempted to run the ball out of their 22-metre area, lost the ball in possession and Keswick’s Chris Potter reacted with lightning pace and skill to kick the ball through to the in-goal area and touch down for another of his trademark opportunist tries. Kieran Mewse, back in the team at standoff, converted for a 7- 5 lead.
Keswick continued to control possession and pile on the pressure, resulting in Potter covering a South Shield penalty clearance that didn’t make touch.
The ball was moved across the pitch through the backs resulting in Ryan Weir scoring a well taken try, converted by Mewse.
Keswick maintained their ascendancy and from a line-out in the opposition 22, very quickly scored a further try resulting from a powerful piece of close quarter forward running by Jamie Mackenzie, breaking through to touch down. Mewse hit the upright with the conversion attempt.
A few minutes later, Keswick suffered a blow when Mackenzie, who had been one of the key forwards contributing to his side’s overall domination of the first half, went down with a recurrence of an old Achilles tendon injury.
John Addyman came on as replacement and Keswick were unfortunate not to add a further try in the final seconds of the half, having put South Shields under more pressure.
The second half started with a period of sustained forward pressure from a resurgent South Shields, resulting in a series of penalties against Keswick and a try to the away side, which they converted to close the gap to 19–12.
Keswick again reacted positively with some determined play across the team, resulting in the home side pinning South Shields back in their 22.
They were ultimately rewarded for their pressure with a five metre scrum, resulting in a well worked pushover try for the tireless Aaron Thompson. Although the conversion was missed the fourth try had provided Keswick with a much needed bonus point.
With some 25 minutes to go, an altercation in the Keswick half resulted in the home side going down to 14 men, as one of the forwards was red carded.
Keswick now had to really dig deep as South Shields sensed they had a chance to close the gap. As a consequence the home forwards increased their work loads, with exceptional performances from all, especially the irrepressible Steve Moss (again Keswick’s man of the match) very ably supported by Joe Quail.
The Keswick backs also stepped up to the mark, very solid defensively for most of the game, and displaying good movement and distribution skills.
In the final quarter Keswick forwards again put pressure on their opponents and the ball was ultimately released to the backs with Weir scoring his second try of the match to make the score a more comfortable 29 -12.
However, there was still a final twist to what had been an exciting and intense match, with South Shields scoring a converted try in the final minutes against a tired, but spirited 14-man Keswick side.
