Keswick took on a strong Cockermouth squad in challenging conditions in a very entertaining match, writes Ben Challis.
It started in cold rain, had squalls, sleet, and ended in bright sunshine.
The Cumbria One game had been moved to the Grove pitch after the heavy overnight rain, but the dry, blustery morning meant the club’s pitches had, to an extent, drained and dried, and so the game was moved back to Davidson Park only for the pitch to be soaked again with a heavy downpour just before kick-off.
Keswick started the better against fourth placed Cockermouth and for the first five minutes looked more than a match for the visitors, but Cockermouth then took charge of the first half and ran in four tries from Oli Gray, Grant Law, Will Tyson from a powerful driving maul, and Alfie Wright, with Steven Stoddart adding three excellent conversions and a penalty, and the visitors ended the first half 29-0 up.
The second half was a different matter, and despite Keswick having to bring on all of their available substitutes to cover a succession of injuries, Keswick started the better when Aaron Thomson got the home side on the score board as he bulldozed through the Cockermouth defence to touch down under the sticks.
Cockermouth then added another converted try when Alex Butterfield drove through the middle of the Keswick defence, and again Keswick had a mountain to climb.
Although Keswick now had a number of players playing on despite injuries and struggling to keep fifteen players on the pitch, a drive up the left wing and sustained pressure on the Cockermouth try line set up Oli Pepper to add a second try as he forced his way through the Cockermouth defence to dive in and touch down.
Ste Holloway again converted in the blustery cross wind, and the score line was at least respectable.
Two late tries from Cockermouth’s Louie Elliott who aquaplaned through mud and standing water to touch down a skidding loose ball, and a breakaway sprint from Greg Vickers, one converted by Stoddart, meant that the visitors had an uncatchable lead when referee Martin Maughan blew for time with 70 minutes played.
In the league, Kirkby Lonsdale had a 41-5 win over bottom placed Millom and are top the table, Hawcoat Park are second after a dominant 78-0 win over Ambleside, and Carlisle third after they defeated Penrith II 68-10.
The final score was Keswick RFC 14 v 48 Cockermouth RUFC.
