A last-minute penalty sent Keswick tumbling to a 25-24 home defeat against Consett in Regional Two North.
It was a hugely disappointing end to a game that was there for the taking.
With exceptionally good weather for an early February afternoon, Keswick were looking for a much-needed win against a side sitting mid-table.
The early skirmishes suggested an evenly matched game, however after some 10 minutes Consett were starting to dominate possession.
They scored a try from a cross kick to their right wing, who appeared to be offside when the ball was booted his way, but was not spotted by the referee.
The conversion was successful but Keswick responded well, with excellent forward pressure in set piece scrums and clean line-outs.
It set up a period of fast ball to the backs, coupled with impressive touch kicking by Glenn Weightman.
Keswick were able to pin Consett back in their 22-metre area before Henry Ettisoy, playing at wing forward, showed his considerable pace to score a good try in the corner. Kieran Mewse converted from out wide to level the score.
However, within five minutes Consett responded by scoring a second try through the same winger, who was aided by a couple of missed Keswick tackles rather than his own skill at crossing the line.
Trailing 12-7 Keswick then had to ring some personnel changes due to injury, unfortunately one being sustained by key player Jamie McKenzie.
Fortunately, on this occasions, the hosts were at least able to replace him with the extremely capable Mike Tait.
After some 10 minutes of both sides going hard at each other, Keswick were awarded a penalty, which was successfully kicked by Mewse and at half-time it remained at 12-10 to Consett.
Within a couple of minutes of the start of the second half, Consett were able to increase their lead from a penalty.
Keswick then gained the upper hand, with this dominance again based on good solid forward scrum play, decent line-out control which produced predominantly fast ball out to Weightman at fly half.
His quality touch kicking again pinned Consett back in their 22-metre area.
A resultant scrum some eight metres out gave Keswick forwards their chance to apply serious pressure and Steve Moss went over for a well-earned try. Mewse successfully converted for Keswick to take the lead for the first time in the match.
Ten minutes later the Keswick backs spun the ball wide and from well within his own half, outside centre Ryan Weir used his pace to accelerate through a gap in the Consett backs.
He outpaced all the defenders to score an excellent trademark try and Mewse duly converted to give Keswick a 24-15 advantage.
Keswick were looking good for a well-earned win only 15 minutes left.
They just needed to manage the game out but it was easier said than done, as five minutes later Keswick were awarded a penalty just inside the Consett half.
Unfortunately when the ball was tapped and run a pass was intercepted and the Consett player ran the length of the pitch to score a try, which was converted.
Consett gained possession from the restart and proceeded to push Keswick back towards their 22 metre line.
Under this pressure it wasn’t long before a kickable penalty was conceded and that was on target to put Consett in front by a point.
With only a minute of play left, there was no time for Keswick to respond and a game, that was there for the taking, was lost.
