West Hartlepool were second in the Regional 2 North table and Keswick third going into this game, which Keswick players, coaches and spectators knew was going to be a challenge, writes Ben Challis.
West Hartlepool started the better, showing pace, strength in the scrum, and some quick and accurate passing, and began to dominate possession, in part aided by Keswick mistakes and fumbles, and in part by Keswick losing two key players, Lewis Davis and Jack Tinkler, to early injuries.
West Hartlepool took the very early lead with a well worked try from Nick Bennions when a chip kick into the corner was quickly recycled and Bennions stretched out to score, with Jobe Roxby adding the conversion, and with Roxby then adding a penalty goal after a high tackle on West Hartlepool’s Peter Youll, West looked like winners.
At 0-10 down Keswick took advantage of a penalty to set up Kieran Mewse, who on the day is one of if not the league’s best kicker, with unnerving accuracy with his boot. Sure enough the ball soared over between the sticks and Keswick were back in the game at 3-10.
Now West Hartlepool seemed to fluff their lines under pressure, and relentless Keswick attacks gave the home side the chance to opt for a second penalty goal attempt after a knock on and offside, and sure enough Mewse obliged with the boot for 6-10.
As the second half opened it was captain Peter Weightman who gave Keswick the lead, charging over past a confused Hartlepool defence for a try which Mewse duly converted for 13-10.
It was a close game, and, despite Weightman’s try seven minutes in, the second half was initially played out by two evenly matched sides, although that parity didn’t last as the game moved into the the final 20 minutes and West Hartlepool’s discipline went out of the window.
One might have thought that having seeing Mewse’s clear abilities with the boot, the visitors would opt to stay organised and avoid costly mistakes. They didn’t.
Clearly frustrated by Keswick’s excellent defence, they gifted away four penalties. The first was awarded deep inside the Keswick half, but from past experience Keswick knew Mewse could make the distance, and he did, only to see the ball drift away just to the right of the post.
The second, for another high tackle, went over for 16-10, the third curved in magnificently only to hit the post and bounce back, and the fourth, awarded for the now near constant Hartlepool back chat and complaints, was a beauty from Mewse and sailed over right between the sticks.
With Keswick now 19-10 up with 10 minutes left on the clock, West Hartlepool now needed two scores and responded with their own penalty goal from Roxby for 19-13, but as the final five minutes counted down an nervous home crowd could sense victory, and there was delight when referee Martin Denvir blew for time and a well deserved win for Keswick.
After the match head coach Garry Holmes said: “I’m really proud of the squad this weekend, our first double header at the new clubhouse, and it was the right way to celebrate.
“For the third week in a row we have got two full squads out and playing, despite our ever growing injury list.
“Our Regional 2 team showed its maturity as we navigated a tough start. and trusted that we can stay in touch and ride out the opposition’s good patches in the game.
“It was a tough day in the setpiece and our back line was struggling with its depth. leading to a lack of possession.
“Trailing 6-10 at half time, I imagine we were the happier team going into the break. We knew that we needed to keep working for each other and our endeavour would come through.
“Ultimately that happened, first with a try from an unorthodox tap move for the try, and then with the score board pressure. Kieran Mewse showed how much he has developed in the last three years with a kicking masterclass for territory and points.
“Peter Weightman led from the front, as always, and was our Man of the Match, although I do feel that any of the 18-man squad could have been awarded that honour. This was a real team effort and an experience that should help us in the long journey through the season.”
Undefeated Northern continue to dominate the league table, winning 41-0 at Wigton, with Wigton now rooted in the bottom spot.
Keswick are now second, and Sunderland’s close 44-38 home win over Percy Park pushes them into third spot, with West Hartlepool now fourth and Percy Park fifth.
Upper Eden beat Guisborough 36-23 to go sixth, but Aspatria’s 17-46 home defeat to Durham City leaves the Black & Reds in eighth place.
Morpeth are seventh, Durham ninth, Consett 10th, Guisborough 11th and Wigton 12th.
