Keswick Rugby Club News

Keswick could only manage a tight 6-6 draw at home to Millom

With two kickable penalties conceeded in the last few minutes it could easily have been a win for Millom but they failed to convert.

 What happened – well many of us are scratching our heads – we didnt appear to be up for it until well into the 2nd half – our scrum went backwards and we got no decent ball as a result - in contact we got turned over too often – were the backs too deep ? should we have attempted a couple of very long penalties early in the 2nd half -  did the large numbers of player coming and going over the last 3 weeks unsettle us ?

all of the above led to a below par result – full credit to Millom they are a good side with a decent pack and an inside centre who can straighten and break tackles very effectively.

Overall you have to say it was a lucky escape to come away with a draw.  

Not a game to be remebered very stop start and summed up by a 3 minute delay after both match balls were lost behind the gun club !

It will need to be a much move motivated team for next weeks crunch away game at Netherall

U18 won their Tri County Home game against Durham City 22-3

U17’s won their Northern Semi Final RFU U17 game against Burnely 13-3 – their next game will be against the the winner of Darlington Mowden Park v Pontefract for the Northern Division title – the winner of the Northern Division then plays the winner of Midlands for a National Final place

Both ganes great advert for youth rugby in Keswick – well done lads – and thanks to the many many supporters who turned up to cheer on all the teams and were rewarded with watching some great rugby.

1st Xv Keswick 57 – Wigton 0

Another game on the school pitches due to club pitches being touch & go

Another shut out game with no points conceeded so we are still looking at an average of less than 4 points a game conceeded this season – In truth our backs gave a master class in back play today with Brian Storey and Mark Ireland creating some real gaps for others. The pack provided superb ball throughout and created forward momentum when they went short – overall a good display against a Wigton team that was honest and fair and provided willing opposition but were outmatched. Despite missing Wharmby, McKenzie & Roper the replacements of Aaron Thompson, Ben Ashcroft etc were more then adequate replacements.

Play of the game was Jack Farrell (younger brother of the young Ben Farrell) coming on as a blood replacement and immediateltly scoring from the back of the line out and then going straight back off injured – probably the shortest stay on a pitch for a try ever ! 

Well done great rugby – tough match next week at home against Millom who have been creeping up the league

This Sunday 16th there is the prospect of watching some great rugby (we’ll probably need to see some good rugby if England play like last week !)

What On

1st up are the Under 18’s kicking off at 12.30 against Durham City in the Tri County League

This is followed at 2.00 pm by the Under 17’s who are playing Burnely in the RFU National U17’s – as you will recall last year we made it to the finals at Worcester – this game is the Northern Region Semi Final – this is a superb team and an opportunity to talent spot the next crop of youngsters that will be coming through for the senior sides next year

whatever the result there will be some great rugby and some good crack with the away supporters – so try not to miss the games

1st XV  – Whitehaven 9  Keswick 42

1nd XV – Keswick 30 Whitehaven 5

Keswick was getting a downpour as the 1st XV set off for Whitehaven – but arrival on the west coast saw the weather dry but windy. Keswick played into the wind in the 1st half and had to absorb a fair bit of pressure and made it to half time 10-9 ahead.  In the second half the wind dropped and as the half went on the wind also went out of the Whitehaven players and Keswick slowly began to dominate and a series of very clever kicks behind the Whitehaven defense which appeared to have the single method of blitzing in the defensive options  soon saw benefits.

Try highlight has to go to Jonny Hume who came on with 30 minutes to go and first kicked through and followed up to score under the posts and then put a superb grubber kick through that allowed Jamie mcKenzie to show his pace and leave his opposite number watching as he touched down. The very noisy Whitehaven supporters were slowly silenced and then seen heading for the Club House 15 minutes from time as Keswick passed 30 points. Our forwards against a much heavier pack held their own in the set plays and the tackling around the fringes negated Whitehaven pick and go tactics. The Whitehaven backs especially 10 and centre were very effective throughout and posed several threats which stretched Keswick’s defence on several occasions. Another good team victory.

That leaves one question  – when was the last time Carrick played a full game ?? yet again he took his customary 10 minute rest thanks to a yellow card – I’m starting to think he just needs a breather ! – in fairness this weeks card was more a result of Whitehaven supporter pressure on the ref that got to the point where someone was gone to the bin for something just so the ref could have some peace from the touchline.

Good to see the 2nds return to winning ways - well done – I hear the ref was a bit rusty – but it was Richard Standring !  

No details I’m afraid as work meant I had to miss this years 7’s but Keswick won the competition again beating Austin Friars in the final

 well done

Following on from last year when we reached the National Finals this years U17’s have started their run.

Following selection via the Ryton Tournament the U17 visited Heaton Moor, Stockport on Sunday fior the 1st National Roand and came away with an excellant win.

Their next match will be at Home against Barnsely – watch this space for date & times etc.

 Good Luck lads and very well done so far !

the wet weather during the week meant the home game against Greengarth was played on the school pitches – the remote pitches act as a wind magnet and today was no exception – thankfully the rain kept away.

the game started with Keswick playing against the wind and it took 20 minutes and considerable commentry from the touch line before the team decided that long passes in strong winds were not going to work. The shorter game was greatly helped by the return of “swede” who stole endless ruck ball in a superb performance. However it took some Jon Hine trickery to get points on the board with two superb kicks over the top followed by a well called quick throw in opportunity.

Swede then treated us to one of his rampaging tries and Matty Roper closed out the scoring with a well deserved try.  Given the very windy conditions perhaps the best performance was from Mark Ireland who converted all the tries and kicked a penalty for 100% kicking display.

Superb defence work in the ruch and tackle led by Ashley Gaskill, Paul Henderson, Carrick and John Helm meant Greengarth had very few opportunities. That having been said they are a much improved side from earlier in the season and have developed a potentially very good back line.

Finally the discpline this week was superb with everyone shouting to keep hands out – it was pleasing to see such a low penalty count

Great game – awful weather – certaintly better than last week at Creighton !