Keswick Rugby Club return to winning ways as they beat Fleetwood

After a 31-21 win down there, Keswick got off to a flier with a try on three minutes.

From a line-out on halfway, a good run by Matty Roper was followed up by Carrick Wharmby for Ryan Weir to score in the corner.

For the first 20 minutes, both sides were testing the other but Keswick had the better of the possession, position and play, driving with the forwards and good running by the backs.

Fleetwood were strong in the pack, dominating the scrums with Keswick struggling to win clean possession on their own put in and giving away penalties.

On Fleetwood’s first foray into the Keswick half, a good tackle by Robbie Bland just short of the line prevented a score.

A bit of a fracas ended with three yellow cards but Fleetwood were unable to take advantage of the extra man and Keswick’s line-out proved more solid than their scrums.

After surviving sustained pressure, Keswick were able to get back into the Fleetwood 22 for some good attacking phases.

From a line-out win, Keswick moved the ball across the field twice before Weir was able to avoid two tackles to cross for his second try.

The Fleetwood restart was returned with interest and Keswick were able to win a penalty which Andy Muir converted on the stroke of half-time for a 13-0 lead.

After an early exchange of kicks and a couple of penalties to Fleetwood, good running and support play by Fleetwood’s backs allowed them to cross for a converted try.

When Andy Wallace fielded a kick in his 22 and decided to run it back, some good passing through the backs saw Michael Bunting release George Holme who crossed for a try, converted by Muir on 66 minutes.

Four minutes later, the Keswick backs came up out of alignment, allowing a space for Fleetwood to break through for their left-wing to score under the posts.

The conversion cut the deficit to six points.

The last five minutes saw strong pressure on the Keswick line, well defended by the whole team, and assisted by Fleetwood’s poor handling, with one final pass going astray and another a forward pass with the try-line beckoning.

Wigton’s impressive home run continued with a 45-12 win over Eccles, who had more of the game than the scoreline suggests.

In fact, they scored first when winger Mike Shaw intercepted a laboured pass and never looked like being caught as he dashed 50 yards to score. Matt Swain converted.

It was also an interception, by Dan Reed, which produced Wigton’s first try as centre Richard Moffatt was the one who finally crashed over.

Wigton were putting together some good phases of rugby as they made the best of the good playing conditions.

From a clearance kick, Fergus Ledingham supplied Reed then Moffatt. The centre made 50 yards before flanker Colin Sessford put Stephen Harris in close to the line and he neatly offloaded to prop Lindsay Walker to score. Ryan Clark converted.

Then Robert Marrs did the approach work with a typical powerful, rumbustious carry and Sessford make the most of his low centre of gravity to bounce off the last defenders and claim the score.

A 10-point gap was by no means insurmountable and Eccles started the second half in determined mood, enjoying an extended period of pressure in Wigton territory.

When Wigton won a turnover, the ball was quickly moved wider to Moffatt who galloped into the Eccles 22.

It was left to Reed to give the scoring pass to Ledingham with Clark converting.

Then, good recycled ball for Wigton was passed to Moffatt who battered through some fairly benign tackles and clattered his way over for his second try which Clark converted.

Accurate, quick handling gave right winger Aron Henderson a try in the corner which Clark converted.

Wigton kept going and Lewis took a short pass from Reed to break tackles and score the final try, converted by Clark.

Eccles finished well and number eight Steve Sarno took a quick tap and was unstoppable as he landed a consolation try.