The Christmas break, after week 13
Another wild and wet weekend, and the last fixtures until the New Year. Our visit to Keswick on a blustery day, after heavy overnight rainfall saw the fixture moved over the river to the school field. Pitch still soft, but grassed and an end to end wind. Kirkby played with the wind first half, and after a promising move, play broke down on the half way line and the home winger picked up and squeezed in at the corner. Kirkby had a few chances, and a few opportunities in the Keswick 22, but the half finished with some Keswick pressure on the Kirkby line, inevitably ending with a pushover try under the posts, so 12 - 0 at half time. Keswick then had the wind advantage but on a couple of occasions kicked too long. However a promising threequarters move ended up with their right winger tackled into touch a couple of metres short, but referee gave a penalty try, but I, and others were not sure why? Whatever did occur resulted in a yellow card for the Kirkby full back. The exchanges were evenly matched and again either a knock on, not releasing at the breakdown meant that Kirkby were unable to get on the scoreboard. From an offence on half way, Keswick moved the ball wide, right and their winger went in for his second try, to complete the scoring 24 - 0.
Other results saw Keswick climb two places in the table, but otherwise the league stays pretty similar to how it stood. Carlisle losing at home to Middlesbrough 21 - 55. Consett winning at home to Upper Eden 22 - 14, and Durham City losing at home to Northern 14 - 25. Elsewhere Aspatria travelled to Morpeth and came close to a surprise just going down 47 - 42. West Hartlepool beat Guisborough 57 - 12. Have a great Christmas, and the league resumes on 4 January.
Photograph courtesy of Ben Challis