Keswick Rugby Club News

NORTHERN TRI-COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP.

u-17.

SUNDERLAND 0 – KESWICK 43 points.

Keen to exorcise the memory of Thursday’s County Cup exit at the hands of Carlisle Keswick exploded from the blocks and within ten minutes of the start had scored three tries and established a 17 point lead. The  tries were bound by similarity and scored wide on the right by unstoppable wingman Josh Clark (twice) and hooker Eddie Bell respectively. Inspired by the pace around the pitch of their pack, the superb distribution of scrum half Harry Garner, and the powerful bursts of centres Harry Hancock and Peter Weightman Keswick produced deadly accurate ‘go forward’ rugby from the outset and Sunderland were helpless under the onslaught.

Hancock added a fourth try after a lull in which Keswick maintained control but relaxed their intensity. During the mid first half Sunderland recovered from their calamitous start but remained frustrated by Keswick’s refusal to allow any of their initiative to develop. Keswick re raised the tempo and Hancock’s showed Sunderland a clean pair of heels after a turnover ball had been claimed by the hard working James Benson.

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Keen to exorcise the memory of Thursday’s County Cup exit at the hands of Carlisle Keswick exploded from the blocks and within ten minutes of the start had scored three tries and established a 17 point lead. The  tries were bound by similarity and scored wide on the right by unstoppable wingman Josh Clark (twice) and hooker Eddie Bell respectively. Inspired by the pace around the pitch of their pack, the superb distribution of scrum half Harry Garner, and the powerful bursts of centres Harry Hancock and Peter Weightman Keswick produced deadly accurate ‘go forward’ rugby from the outset and Sunderland were helpless under the onslaught.

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CUMBRIAN / NORTH LANCASHIRE LEAGUE.

KESWICK 24 points – HEATON MOOR 8.

Keswick eventually won and won well against one of the best teams in the League. In so doing they produced an inspired performance, combining the essential ingredients of grit, determination, fitness and skill. Keswick players would do well to recognize the hint, which is, that if this level of performance came in 80 minute packages, and with a weekly guarantee, Saturday evenings’ happy vibe could exist on a more permanent basis.

The credibility of the notion that Keswick are ‘as good as whoever it is they are playing’ was tested during the first 20 minutes of this match. It’s advocates could be heard gasping ‘if only’; – Heaton Moor began fast, got faster with confidence, and apart from the battle between scrum halves, demonstrated an edge in all the games’ vital hot spots. As usual Keswick scrum half Matty Roper set an inspired example but still Keswick struggled for possession, and went sideways and backwards when they had it. Keswick lacked precision under pressure and failed to develop decent continuity from the breakouts of Jamie McKenzie and David Ray.

Heaton Moor’s main threat existed with a highly paced back division sizzling with a skills repertoire ripe with variety. Their use of cuts from depth, angled run rounds, step backs and misses was augmented by skilled and repeated application of the timed offload. Keswick were stretched and confused and struggled to appropriately deploy their defenders. Keswick hung in with great determination but in the 14th minute were exposed and penetrated outside outside centre by a sharp break backed by superior numbers and a try was scored to the left of the posts. The kick was missed but this was a small consolation against a side who looked capable of even better things.

There is no doubt that Keswick were helped by Heaton Moor’s failure to appreciate the negligible value of non scoring superiority. Keswick would have paid ready money for a gap to attack but during the five minutes either side of their try Heaton Moor either spurned gaps in a search for a better one or were tempted into over elaboration when something more bog standard would have sufficed. All they had to add for a shed load of pressure was three points from a 17th minute penalty.

This alone should have been enough to lift Keswick’s spirits but something more tangible represented even better value and arrived thanks to a piece of typically inspired opportunism by John Hine. Heaton Moor’s comfortable control of the set scrum meant that even when they were awarded one on the edge of their ‘22′ they saw it as a credible attacking opportunity. From an advancing platform, favorably wheeled, there was nothing unusual in Heaton’s choice of a simple 9-8-9 procedure as a means to develop an attack. What is unusual in the circumstances is an opposition interception and Hine’s turbo charged appearance between opponents and subsequent try must have come as a particularly unwelcome surprise to Heaton Moor forwards returning to the upright position. Hine kicked the conversion producing an 7-8 scoreline and, in a game that suddenly became more equal, this lasted until half time.

Heaton Moor began the second half with a greater reliance on their forwards. For a long ten minutes this represented a challenge that stretched Keswick to the limit. Although Keswick’s set scrummage became more settled by the introduction of replacement Ashley Gaskell the pressure close to the goal line was monumental and Keswick’s discipline and commitment in the tackle had to be spot on. Under testing circumstances try saving tackles were registered by Roper, Andy Wallace, Aaron Thompson and Carrick Wharmby. As usual Ray was prominent at the sharp end and was the inspiration who best exemplified Keswick’s instinct for survival. Amidst the chaos created by continuous goal line rucks, Heaton Moor’s admirable approach play was not augmented by quality of finish and there was a key incident, probably borne of frustration, from which Keswick drew enormous inspiration. Following tackles by Ben Bentham and another, a try saver by Harry Hancock, Heaton Moor were awarded a penalty. The penalty was undoubtedly kickable but, influenced by their field position and monopoly of pressure Heaton Moor opted to scrummage. Keswick resented the implication and drove the scrum sideways and to a position where Heaton Moor’s  possession was scrappy and redundant. A minute later when Heaton Moor’s widest attacker opted to cut back towards the goalposts rather than go for the corner he was met by the combined tackles of Wallace and Thompson and another chance was lost.

Geed up by survival heroics and a more reliable set scrum and lineout Keswick set a higher defensive line and eventually escaped their own half thanks to a big turnover tackle by Mike Branthwaite and dart by Brian Storey. Heaton Moor slowed the ball illegally and fighting the temptation to kick for position Hine chanced his arm with a kick at goal. The distance was 45 metres and at the limit of his range but a well struck shot cleared the bar by no more than 3” and Keswick had a 10-8 lead.

Heaton Moor were not done for and Keswick had to remain alert particularly when the visitors threequarters exploded into life from the back of the pitch. Wallace was again called into action to stop an outside break by Heaton Moor’s right winger but this was one of the last of Heaton Moors’ opportunities to regain the lead. There was greater confidence in everything Keswick did and as the game maintained it’s pace entering the final quarter, growing evidence of Keswick’s edge in fitness. The shift in balance was barely perceptible but gained momentum when Heaton Moor were turned by deep carrying kicks by Hine and Storey supported by well organised chases led by Thompson and Ray. The games’ defining moment arrived in the 67th minute when Heaton Moor lost direction and not for the first time became lost running out of defence. Just inside the Keswick half Storey made a big tackle and the ball went loose before being claimed by Ray. Ray span a pass to a thinly populated blind side where Keswick were 2 to 3 against and represented by prop forward Graeme Marshall and winger McKenzie.  McKenzie is a natural finisher and Marshall isn’t, so it was mildly alarming when Marshall ignored the passing option in favour of something more adventurous.  Marshall’s explosion through the first tackle was determined but was accompanied by a unanimous plea that he should ‘pass now!’. He didn’t, and with defenders, as well as McKenzie, trailing in his wake he found top gear early and went all the way to the try line – unarguably a distance of 60 metres!. Hine kicked the valuable conversion and all of a sudden, and for the first time, victory in the match seemed more likely than defeat.

Keswick were the better side during the time that remained and relied on the sensible option as as the basis of their approach. Heaton Moor played the catch up game well and could never be discounted, but were unable to dictate the direction of the game as they had done earlier. They were most made to regret earlier missed chances when Keswick manufactured a 78th minute try from a 9 phase move during which most of the team seemed to make a contribution. The try was finished by Ray after Joe Roper’s goal bound dash, Gaskell’s enterprising switch, and a run by Hine stopped a metre short of the lime.

KESWICK 24 points – HEATON MOOR 8.

Keswick eventually won and won well against one of the best teams in the League. In so doing they produced an inspired performance, combining the essential ingredients of grit, determination, fitness and skill. Keswick players would do well to recognize the hint, which is, that if this level of performance came in 80 minute packages, and with a weekly guarantee, Saturday evenings’ happy vibe could exist on a more permanent basis.

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U 17s Table

Played Won Lost Draw Fair Play Points League Points Total Points

Consett 7 5 1 1 1 29 30

Keswick 5 3 2 28 28

Ryton 8 6 2 26 26

Blaydon 5 3 2 18 18

Darlington Mowden Park 4 3 1 17 17

Acklam 5 2 2 1 15 15

Sunderland 7 1 6 9 9

Hartlepool Rovers 2 1 1 7 7

Gateshead 2 2 3 3

CUMBRIAN / NORTH LANCASHIRE LEAGUE.

ALDWINIANS 15 points – KESWICK 15.

It is a measure of Keswick’s improvement that a trip to Aldwinians is no longer perceived as a mission impossible. However, a hardened mindset is no guarantor of good form; lots went wrong, and against a Aldwinians side apparently afflicted by a comparable number of issues, Keswick achieved a draw with a stuttering performance in a dull game.

And the achievement should not be underrated, Aldwinians, could, should and nearly did win the match but through a mixture of occasional good luck, a refusal to give in and critical superior fitness Keswick were still in with a shout at the end of normal time. A surge by the Keswick pack, slowed illegally by Aldwinians, enabled skipper John Hine to claim the draw with a dramatic and difficult final minute penalty kick at goal.

Against Workington in the previous match Keswick got away with a three prop front row arrangement lacking a specialist hooker. It didn’t take Aldwinians so long to rumble this deficiency and with superior technique and timing they were soon  claiming wholesale scrum ball against the head. It gave back-footed Keswick an additional headache they didn’t need, but for the first half at least they bore the extra defensive workload well and critically the Keswick lineout remained sound.

When Keswick had the ball they looked very threatening. In addition to possession claimed from lineouts there was that won at tackles, mainly those made by centres Brian Storey and Mike Branthwaite, and that from regular spillages by the out of sorts Aldwinians threequarters. Big Aldwinian hoofs down-field were pointless and unproductive and were caught consistently by Keswick’s reliable back three defenders. In particular Andy Wallace from full back made some long and penetrative counter attacking runs. Keswick’s best combination moves were inspired by scrum half Matty Roper who twice broke up the inside left channel before linking, in the first instance, with loose forward Steve Hodgson and then winger Jamie McKenzie. Both moves became boxed in near the touchline but were only a final pass away from greater reward. There is no doubt that Keswick missed the ball stealing ability of the absent David Ray but there was at least potential to create greater counter rucking damage with the promise of the introduction from the replacements bench of Bryan Mol.

Aldwinians missed 2 penalties and Hine one, before Keswick’s breakaway try in the 20 minute. As ever Storey was quickly up in defence and flattened his opposite number with a shuddering tackle. Storey remained upright and picked up the bouncing loose ball without breaking stride. With Hine on his shoulder Storey sprinted beyond halfway before releasing Hine from 30 metres for a try under the crossbar. A successful conversion gave Keswick a priceless 7 point lead.

In a close but desperately dour second quarter Keswick survived until  injury time. It was then that, aided by a penalty kick to the corner, Aldwinians fully exploited their scrum advantage.  Aldwinians created workable blind side space from their fourth scrum in succession and a try and conversion tied the scores at half time.

The second half was similarly close but more deeply affected by the breakdown of execution present in both sides. The contest was big on commitment, often misdirected down the road of over aggressive posturing, yet lifted above the mediocre by the isolated contributions of occasionally inspired individuals acting alone. All over the place there was the failure to react to cues and the collapse of ensemble procedures normally regarded as standard bread and butter. Whilst giving the impression of a good side waiting to happen Aldwinians never looked capable of scoring until Keswick offered them penalty  possession and then irresistible space in front of goal. It was the 60th minute, Aldwinians claimed a very soft try, and the only good thing for  Keswick was that the home side missed the unbelievably easy conversion.

Two minutes later Aldwinians were awarded a more difficult, but non the less straight penalty and a successful attempt created an identical scenario to that faced by Keswick in the previous match. That is that even with a converted try they would still be one point short of a result.

Undeterred Keswick stepped up the pace of the game and were awarded two critical penalties when, at successive rucks there were more men present earlier and Aldwinians were panicked into indiscretion. For five minutes the referee seemed to like Keswick, Aldwinians dived into rucks with witless abandon and the penalty count was reversed in Keswick’s favour. Inspired by this unexpected good fortune the Keswick pack came to life and despite the complete demise of lineout quality foraged for loose balls and scraps of possession better than at any time during the match. As anticipated Mol made a big impression at the ruck which became a much more productive source of turnover possession. In response to a better supply Hine fired the back division; a long pass to Wallace created a running opportunity for the Keswick full back and the creation of a try scoring chance for Matty Roper. The opportunity was missed as Aldwinians scrambled but two good scrums maintained the position and when Hine next fired a pass to Wallace there was greater and more urgent support from the Keswick pack. Play was kept alive by Carrick Wharmby and replacement Richard Fletcher who drove purposefully at Aldwinians’ first up defence. The possession was fast and brilliant passing across the back division enabled McKenzie to drive over in the far left hand corner. The conversion was missed but Keswick needed another score in any case and  improving against a spent up side the scene was set for a big finish and Hine’s priceless final contribution.

This Saturday Keswick play Heaton Moor at Davidson Park. This is sure to be a difficult game for Keswick given Heaton Moor’s sustained pursuit of Wigton at the top of the table. When Keswick visited Heaton Moor in October they faced a side on top form, full of attacking ideas behind the scrum and with sufficient pace and passing accuracy to regularly expose the Keswick backs. Keswick hope to welcome back hooker Ashley Gaskell and flanker David Ray.

Cumbrian North Lancashire League.

WORKINGTON 23 POINTS – KESWICK 22.