Keswick battled their way to a fifth win on the bounce in Regional 2 North with a 23-15 victory over Morpeth RFC, writes Ben Challis.
It means they have maintained very strong start to the season, thanks to tries from Oli Clark and Ben Clark, both converted by Kieran Mewse, and three Mewse penalty goals.
The game was played in what should have been a scheduled free weekend for both teams, but Storm Amy had forced the postponement of the original fixture and so this was the catch up game for both teams.
With heavy overnight rain leaving Keswick’s two pitches at Davidson Park waterlogged, thankfully the pitch at The Grove was deemed playable, albeit heavy, wet and slippery.
It was Morpeth who took the early lead, taking advantage of a penalty award by referee Simon Barker some 30 yards out and directly in front of the Keswick posts, with Jake McKay kicking for 0-3 just two minutes in.
It didn’t take Keswick long to respond, and three minutes later Mewse planted an excellent kick forwards straight to Ben Clark who passed the ball to brother Oli who then charged to the line unchallenged to dive in under the posts with Mewse converting the try for a 7-3 lead.
Just four minutes later Keswick were awarded a penalty on the half way line and elected to take the kick at goal, with Mewse slotting the ball over for 10-3.
Fifteen minutes in Mewse added a second penalty for 13-3. Keswick were on top but it wasn’t easy, Morpeth did well with their line outs, and then took advantage of an Oli Clark sin binning to put pressure on the Keswick defence with Marky Trow, Haydn Holmes and Matty Atkinson all putting in some massive tackles while Keswick were reduced to 14.
Back full strength, the half closed with Keswick re-establishing their dominance, although an ever increasing blustery wind meant Mewse’s third attempt for a penalty goal went wide of the posts.
Although the teams were well matched in the scrum, Keswick opened the second half with a period of dominance, with captain Peter Weightman leading from the front and making valuable yards deep into the Morpeth half, and Jamie Wilson and Callum McClary both particularly effective in pushing Keswick forwards, with McClary causing real trouble for the Morpeth defence down the left wing, sliding past tacklers and shrugging off grasping hands and arms, and Wilson twice coming within inches of the Morpeth try line.
Keswick almost got over when a powerful tackle from George Atwood pushed a tiring Morpeth back over their own try line, the pressure was relentless, and it was Ben Clark who finally broke through the Morpeth defence in a well worked move set up by a Weightman charge, with Clark diving in just to the right on the posts, and Mewse converting for Keswick and a 20-3 lead.
That margin was immediately cut back by Morpeth, who advanced up the left wing on the restart with Nathan Arkle going over and Mackay converting for 20-10.
Keswick still had a good, but not comfortable lead, and with 20 minutes left on the clock, coach Garry Holmes brought on Lewis Thompson and Ashton Quigley to add fresh legs, strength and speed, with Quigley stepping up from the Osprey Colts and making his senior debut.
Keswick again took advantage of Morpeth mistakes and ill discipline, and despite less than idea conditions, used Mewse to kick for three penalties, the final one of which was successful, giving Keswick a 23-10 lead with with 10 minutes to go.
Morpeth now needed two converted tries to take an unlikely win, and it wasn’t to be, although in the very last minute Morpeth’s Theo Gavaghan managed to burrow over through a melee of Keswick defenders (who had thought Gavaghan had been held up) to touch down for an unconverted try and a final score line of 23-15.
After the match head coach Garry Holmes said: “We are really proud of the way we went out and gave a very good performance under tough circumstances.
“Our emotions could have been all over the place with more than 35 players unavailable on what should have been a rest week, and having to withdraw from our Cumbria 1 game against Ambleside, and then a late change to The Grove due to the deluge of rain over Friday night.
“We kept our emotions intact, and saw some very mature performances from some young players. Kieran Mewse once again showed why he is making the number 10 shirt his own and the Clark brothers in the centres created real excitement, both on the ball and off it.
“Morpeth are a big setpiece side and whilst we managed to grapple parity in the scrum, we had a horrid day in the lineout.
“Around the park I felt we out had the upper hand due to a higher work rate and more enthusiasm. I would add that it was great to see Ashton Quigley make his debut, and he is an exciting prospect for the future.
“We now move into a clear second place, the advantage of playing and winning our game in hand. This week we will be calling for focus, and we will remind ourselves that we need to repeat our efforts against Guisborough.”
With seven games now played by each club in Regional 2 North, Northern top the table with seven wins out of seven and 34 points, Keswick are in second place with six wins and 29 points, Percy Park third with four wins and 23 points and Sunderland fourth with four wins and 21 points.
Saturday November 8
- Keswick RFC v Guisborough RUFC Regional 2 North. Kick-off 2pm
- Cockermouth RUFC v Keswick RFC Cumbria 1. Kick-off 2pm
Sunday November 9
- Keswick Falcons v Lancaster Lionesses Women’s NC 1 North
