Keswick battled their way to a dominant win over Creighton in Cumbria 1, with the home side going over for eight tries in total, writes Ben Challis.
Ste Holloway added five conversions and a penalty goal and the final score was 53 v 0.
On a damp and sticky Davidson Park pitch, it didn’t take long for Keswick to get themselves on the scoreboard when John Addyman battered his way forwards and almost made the Creighton try line before Keswick set up a break down the left wing which saw Frazer Murray and Alex Slaughter-Crisp charging in, with Murray dotting down for an unconverted try.
Keswick were clearly on top, but Creighton held back repeated advances until the 20th minute when Keswick were awarded a penalty, and Holloway took the opportunity to grab three more points.
As the first half closed an unstoppable Joe Quail crashed through the Creighton defence for Keswick’s second try, with Holloway adding the conversion and 15-0.
The second half opened with both Aaron Thompson and Glen Weightman coming on as substitutes, with both returning from long-term injuries which ended their 2025 Regional 2 North seasons. Both had immediate impacts.
Weightman’s game management was immediately obvious, with Keswick now looking increasingly dangerous on the wings, and it was Thompson who opened the second half scoring with a break through the centre from the halfway line and, despite the attentions of retreating defenders, Thompson made the Creighton try line to dive in with Holloway adding a simple conversion for 22-0.
The floodgates were now well and truly opened and it was Weightman who set up the next try after an excellent cross field play from Matty Roper and Ben Metcalfe, with Weightman providing the final pass to set up Murray who touched down for his second try, with Holloway missing a tricky conversion for 27-0.
Creighton now looked outclassed, and Keswick were dominant for the final 20 minutes of the match, scoring four more tries in quick succession.
First off, Metcalfe set up another right wing attack, with John McCoy sprinting well clear of chasing defenders to dot down, and this was quickly followed by a Slaughter-Crisp charge up the left wing with the ball passed across the field to Ben Pepper for a well deserved try after on the right wing, with Pepper muscling his way through two big hits to dive over the line, with Holloway converting again for a now uncatchable 41-0.
The final two tries both came from Liam Quail, the first a barnstorming run through the Creighton defence to dive in under the sticks, the second set up by a near length of the field charge by James Hinkley who almost made it to the try line with a powerful but ultimately flagging solo run, but Quail was set up from the next play and scampered over for Keswick’s eighth try with Holloway adding another conversion to make the final score 53-0 to Keswick.
After the match captain Jake Winter said: “This was a massively improved performance from last week, and we played with a lot more structure and defended well to keep Creighton scoreless.
Creighton voted Joe Quail as the Man of the Match which was a good call, but I have to say but it could have been any number of our players.
“Ben Pepper was outstanding on the on the wing, Liam Quail carried well and scored two tries, and it was great to have Matty Roper and Glen Weightman back playing. This was a good win for Keswick”.
In other results, Cockermouth had an important but very close 10-8 win over St Benedict’s, Workington’s recent run of good results came to an end with a 69-19 hammering away at Egremont, second placed Kirkby Lonsdale defeated Windermere 41-7, Millom lost out 10-31 at home to Hawcoat Park, Penrith II went down to 12-24 defeat at home to Whitehaven, and table toppers Carlisle were awarded a home walk over against Ambleside. This Saturday, Keswick face third placed Hawcoat Park at Davidson Park.
Morpeth RUFC 44 v 18 Keswick RFC Regional 2 North
It was an away defeat for Keswick in Regional 2 North against a strong Morpeth side, with Keswick now in seventh place in the Regional 2 North table on the back of the loss.
It was 17-6 at the break but Morpeth extended their lead to 44-18 at the final whistle running in a total of six tries, with four conversions and two penalties.
Keswick did go over to two tries from Peter Weightman and Danny Price, with Kieran Mewse adding two penalties and one conversion.
In other results, Consett defeated Aspatria 45-26, Durham City lost out 14-24 at home to Sunderland, and Guisborough lost out 12-20 at home to league leaders Northern FC. Keswick face sixth placed West Hartlepool this Saturday.
After the match, head coach Garry Holmes said: “I’m really proud of the squad this week. In previous years we would never get two teams out on a week with a rearranged fixture.
“It speaks volumes on kind of a group they are. It was a great result at home in Cumbria 1 this week.
“At the start of the week we knew that we had a number of players unavailable to travel to Morpeth. The effect this has on our Cumbria 1 team is significant.
“We were helped a number of players returning from long term absences such as Aaron Thompson, Glen Weightman and Matty Roper.
“I would like to congratulate Jack Park, Keelan Johnson and Thomas Downes on making their Regional 2 debuts.
“This is really valuable experience for them as we continue to transition the squad. Tries from Pete Weightman and Danny Price were rewards for the efforts of the whole squad this week.
“The young 9/10 combination of Lewis Pepper and Ben Clark showed some real promise for our future. I’m most proud that the lads never gave up in pretty tough conditions – it was awesome to be part of this”.
Fixtures on Saturday January 31
- West Hartlepool v Keswick Regional 2 North
- Keswick v Hawcoat Park Cumbria 1
