Keswick booked their place in the Papa Johns Trophy regional final with a fine 28-24 home win over West Hartlepool.
It was an all round great effort by Keswick with a superb kicking performance from Kieran Mewes with a personal points tally of 23.
A large crowd had gathered at Davidson Park in anticipation of another tough game in the national cup competition, welcoming West Hartlepool for the second time this season.
Keswick started the game strongly and dominated the opening exchanges with strong running Stephen Moss and Will Addyman leading the way. An offside at the ruck gave Kieran Mewes the chance to open the scoring with a penalty after eight minutes.
As is often the way, West Hartlepool came back strongly forcing Keswick to concede a number of penalties before working a good line of running to score under the posts and to lead 7-3.
The boot was literally on the other foot as Kieran Mewes converted the first of two penalties from the half way line with a magnificent strike.
The game was even leading up to half time with West probing through the central midfield and Keswick kicking for position after Karl Smyth and Lewis Bell won a number of turnovers.
Mewes got another penalty chance which he converted to give Keswick a 9-7 lead. With the last move of the half, however West hit back with a well worked try to take a 12-9 lead into half-time.
As the second half kicked off the enthusiastic crowd got behind the Keswick team and West conceded another penalty where once again Mewes stepped up to draw the game level.
The introduction of Glen Weightman for the half also brought control and better running lines and a smart move involving fast ruck ball from Marky Trow and Matty Roper led to winger Joe Allday finishing brilliantly to score the try in the corner, once again converted by Mewes to give Keswick a 19-12 lead.
Not much more than five minutes later West were back in the game with constant pressure on the Keswick line eventually leading to a converted try and for the score to go level at 19-19.
Once more from the kick-off West conceded a penalty after pressure from the Keswick forwards and up stepped Mewes to slot the penalty and give the lead back at 22-19.
There then followed a period of attrition on the Keswick line with the defence coming out on top with superb tackling across the team. From a turnover and breakout Keswick earned another penalty behind the centre spot and Mewes stepped up once more to convert from 50 metres to go to 25-19.
Keswick kept up the pressure and runs from Mike Tait, Dan Allaker and Ryan Weir got close to the West try line before Matty Roper fired a pass back to Mewes who calmly slotted the first successful drop goal seen at Davidson Park for many seasons to give a nine point lead, meaning West would need two scores.
Unfortunately, one of Keswick’s most dominant players, number eight Stephen Moss was brought down and had to be stretchered off with a serious ankle injury. He will be sorely missed by the team for the final as one of the most consistent performing players of the season.
Once the game re-started it was all West Hartlepool as they tried to fight back and they did break the Keswick line to score a try with the conversion being missed and Keswick held on for a deserved 28-24 win.
The club now looks forward to the final at the Darlington stadium on Sunday May 12, kick off 5pm against Olney RFC from Northamptonshire.
