Penrith and Keswick had a break from league rugby when they met at Winters Park in the quarter final of the County Cup.
The league structure has Penrith sitting a level higher but both clubs are scrapping at the foot of their tables, although the visitors’ last two results have seen them climb out of the relegation zone.
A home win against Upper Eden and then an impressive away win at Morpeth suggested this game would be no foregone conclusion.
In fact there were just 10 points in at the end with Penrith going through by virtue of a 28-18 win.
The home side couldn’t have made a better start getting over the visitor’s line in the first five minutes.
Sam Wilson stole Keswick line-out ball and made great progress getting from his own half to the attacking 22.
The home side went through the phases and were thwarted but illegally according to the referee and Penrith kicked the penalty to the corner.
Hooker Andy Rogers found Dylan Thompson at the front of the line and the home pack didn’t drive the maul they set Joe Kirkup up from close range and he spun out of the tackle and over the line.
Keswick came back almost immediately with a Kieran Mewse penalty and then his second five minutes later to lead by an odd point at 6-5.
The hosts then got their noses back in front when Mike Fearon took on a penalty 45 metres out and bounced it over off the crossbar.
The hosts then went close on a number of occasions. Harvey Johnston was finding a lot of space on the right wing and he almost got though when a kick ahead bounced nicely for him but the cover just got there.
Wilson put him away on another occasion and he got deep into the 22 where the visitors were penalised.
The home pack opted for the scrum and Wilson went close breaking from number eight.
The score finally came when Wilson and Johnson combined again to take play deep into the red zone. With the visitors’ defence stretched the ball came left and Joe Spencely chipped it into the corner where Rob Coward won the chase for the touchdown.
Fearon converted off the touchline and Penrith led 15-6 at the break.
Penrith kicked a penalty to the corner early in the second half and secured possession from the line-out.
It took them a while but they were patient and Wilson eventually forced his way over. When Murray slotted a penalty just into the final quarter it was looking like a regulation win as they led 23-6 but the final 10 minutes were anything but.
The visitors had hardly threatened the home line for 70 minutes but they then won a penalty and kicked it to the corner.
They won the lineout and finally found the gap for their first try of the game from Dan Craghill.
At the next opportunity they opened the game up, the hosts fell off a couple of tackles and a second try was added from Mike Tait. Mewse converted to put them within a score as the game went into the final five minutes.
Wilson had been withdrawn but was sent back on to steady the home ship and Penrith ended the game on the front foot.
They won a penalty deep in the visitors’ 22. Rogers quickly tapped and went, he was held up but then Kickup used his strength at close quarters and claimed his second try and the final scoreline looked rather more comfortable than it felt at the time.
