Keswick 20, Carlisle 15
Keswick secured a vital four points in their bid to stave off relegation with a vital last gasp try thanks to the wizardry of Ryan Weir.
With the home side trailing 13 to 15 with just 10 minutes of the match remaining, Weir used his blistering pace to jink his way through the Carlisle defence to score what could be a season defining try.
A large crowd had turned up at Davidson Park to see the next to last league fixture of the season with Keswick’s league survival at stake if other teams’ results went against them.
The afternoon was always going to be tense with so much at stake and so it proved. From kick-off defences reigned and the first score did not come until 18 minutes in to the game with an opportunist try from Weir after a kick return. The conversion was missed and Keswick took a 5-0 lead.
Five minutes later and Carlisle were back in the game with a well worked catch and drive from a line out. The conversion was missed which ultimately would be Carlisle’s undoing as there were numerous point scoring chances throughout the game not taken.
The game did not stay tied for long as Weir showed his strength and guile again to take the score to 10-5 in Keswick’s favour after supporting a solid break from hard working forward Mark Trow. The final score of the half came from a Kieran Mewse penalty to move on to 13-5.
The second half started much in Carlisle’s favour aided by Keswick dropping to 13 men after yellow cards for technical offences. Carlisle pressed hard and scored another try after 10 minutes which again was not converted to take the score to 13-10.
At this stage Keswick were defending strongly led from the front once more by hard tackling captain George Holme supported by forwards Stephen Moss and Joe Quayle. A controversial decision by the referee allowing play to go on after what most supporters, including Carlisle visitors, thought was a knock on eventually led to Carlisle taking the lead for the first time in the game with a driving maul finishing the move. Keswick now trailed 13-15 with 10 minutes to go.
Keswick pressed hard as the clock wound down but the Carlisle defence held firm until a long kick up field nearly to the Keswick try line was gathered by Weir who set off on a mazy run beating at least five defenders as he sidestepped and used strength and speed to score a spectacular hat-trick try converted by Kieran Mewse to win the game for Keswick by 20 pts to 15.
No bonus point, but nevertheless four crucial league points in the relegation battle. Carlisle were worthy opponents who never gave up and fought right to the end. Keswick were holding the past players reunion and the game could not have ended better.
The second team also pulled off a fine victory by 40-10, capping off an all round successful day on the pitch. Off the pitch the club ran a special fundraiser collecting for the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Charity (SUDC) where spectators and supporters gave generously on gate money, raffle and auction to make the day an overall success. Carlisle players, staff and supporters played a big part in this so thanks are due.
Keswick now move on to the final match of the season away at Consett on Saturday. Mathematically Keswick are not guaranteed safety yet, so a big final push is needed to aim to retain Level 6 rugby next year.
