Keswick produced an excellent team performance to win 18-17 at Middlesbrough and complete a Regional 2 North double.
It was particularly satisfying as last-minute changes had to be made and although difficult to single out any individual mention should be made of young players Ollie Clark and Ned Barnes, the latter making his first team debut.
Keswick had lost two key backs in training during the week, so knew they would have a tough time ahead as they had suffered a heavy defeat at Middlesbrough last season.
The game started well for Keswick with the pack taking control at the scrum and dominating the first quarter.
They gained reward for good pressure early on with Kieran Mewse, landing, a perfect cross field kick into the arms of Danny Price, for the first try of the game.
Although the conversion was missed Mewse added a difficult penalty ten minutes later to give Keswick an eight point half-time lead.
Middlesbrough had been frustrated for the whole of the first half by a very strong defensive performance from Keswick.
It was obvious that the Middlesbrough team had received a half-time roasting from their coach as they came out of the blocks hard at the start of the second half.
This resulted in an unconverted try but literally a few minutes later, Middlesbrough spilled the ball in the middle of the park and Keswick mounted a quick counter-attack.
Through fast handling Ryan Weir was sent sprinting to the try line for a score which was converted by Mewse to widen the lead to ten points.
As the match, ebbed and flowed Middlesbrough fought back once more for an unconverted try, bringing them back to within five points.
However a well-taken penalty on 63 minutes by Mewse restored the Keswick lead to ten points with a quarter of an hour to go.
Back came Middlesbrough and were in the reckoning again with a converted try which took them to just a point behind.
The last ten minutes were nail-biting for the travelling Keswick support. Middlesbrough continued to press, but the visitors’ outstanding defence held firm.
The game ended with Keswick forwards, executing a brilliant series of pick and drives to keep possession and deny Middlesbrough victory.
The team now looks forward to this coming Saturday when the visitors are Aspatria when Keswick expect a competitive local derby to provide good entertainment for an anticipated large crowd.
