Middlesbrough 17 Keswick 18
Keswick travelled to Middlesbrough last Saturday having lost two key backs in training during the week, but hoping to do the double for the first time this season.
The team knew they would have a tough time ahead as they had suffered a heavy defeat at Middlesbrough last season.
The game started well for Keswick with the pack taking control at the scrum and dominating the first quarter.
Keswick gained reward for good pressure early on with Kieran Mewse, landing a perfect cross field kick into the arms of Danny Price, for the first try of the game.
Although the conversion was missed, Mewse added a difficult penalty 10 minutes later to give Keswick an eight point half-time lead.
Middlesbrough had been frustrated for the whole of the first half by a very strong defensive performance by Keswick.
It was obvious that the Middlesbrough team had had a half-time roasting from their coach as they came out of the blocks fighting at the start of the second half.
This resulted in an unconverted try to pull the score back to 5-8. Literally a few minutes later, Middlesbrough spilled the ball in the middle of the park and Keswick mounted a quick counter-attack and through fast handling, saw Ryan Weir sprint to the try line for a score which was converted by Kieran Mewse to widen the lead to 10 points.
As the match ebbed and flowed, Middlesbrough fought back once more for an unconverted try bringing them back to within five points.
A well taken penalty on 63 minutes by Mewse restored the Keswick lead to 10 points with a quarter of an hour to go. Middlesbrough immediately came back into the reckoning with a converted try to come within a point of Keswick.
The last 10 minutes were nail-biting for the travelling Keswick support. Middlesbrough continued to press, but Keswick’s outstanding defence held firm.
The game ended with the Keswick forwards executing a brilliant series of pick and drives to keep possession and deny Middlesbrough victory.
This was an excellent team performance, particularly as last-minute changes had to be made.
It is difficult to single out any individual but mention should be made of young players Ollie Clark and Ned Barnes, the latter making his first team debut.
The team now looks forward to tomorrow when the visitors are Aspatria. Keswick expect a competitive local derby to provide good entertainment for an expected large crowd.
