The hosts kicked off attacking towards the clubhouse, and were soon putting Keswick under pressure in their 22 metre area. Their efforts were rewarded when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Lewis Robson duly slotted the kick at goal to give his team the early lead.

The visitors came back into the game and kept Guisborough in their own half with some clever cross field kicks towards the wings. It was such a kick which set up the first try of the game. Winning a scrum inside the 22, the Keswick stand-off kicked diagonally towards the right wing. The ball bounced perfectly for an onrushing player, who then showed his blistering speed to run in a try from 55 metres.

The home team were still creating chances. Their forwards took play deep into Keswick territory. Oli Muir and Connor McFarland took play up to the try-line, where Michael Henderson took possession and dived over. It looked like a score, but the referee deemed the player had not grounded the ball and the try was not given.

Further forays inside Keswick territory were thwarted by their defence, before a kicked clearance took play to the half-way area. A penalty was awarded in favour of the visitors, and a cleanly struck kick reached its target to extend their lead.

Piling forward, with the visitors frequently giving away penalties, the referee brandished his yellow card reducing Keswick numbers for ten minutes.

Kicking to touch, Guisborough won possession and the ball was shipped along the backs. Jack Robinson spotted a gap in midfield, dancing through it to score under the posts.

Now the scores were level and the hosts were looking dangerous with every attacking movement. Isaac Fisher sprinted over and under the posts, but there had been a handling error in the buildup. Bringing play back for another penalty, Guisborough elected to kick to touch 10 metres from the Keswick try-line. Winning possession, and in similar fashion, the ball reached Robinson in midfield. Once again he saw the gap and had the strength to reach the posts and score.

The try brought the first-half to an end, with the scoreboard reading: Guisborough 17 points, Keswick 10 points.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first. Guisborough had the lion’s share of possession and carried the bigger threat.

However, Keswick started to up the tempo and broke into the Guisborough 22. A series of penalties had the visitors attempting to force their way over the try-line from close range, but excellent defensive work stopped any try being scored.

A further yellow card was then shown to a Keswick player, giving the hosts a numerical advantage again. Trying to cash in on this, Tom Pajak made ground along the left wing and to within 10 metres of the whitewash, but unfortunately the ball was passed into the path of the referee, breaking down the attack.

It was now the turn of the home team to upset the match official, with two yellow cards in the space of minutes to Mellor and Pajak, but within this period no points were added.

Back to fourteen players, Guisborough were still having to defend as the visitors’ forwards began to dominate the set-piece situations. The increased pressure finally paid off for Keswick, as they attacked in the hosts’ 22. Strong runs towards the line sucked in defenders, before a Keswick player had the simplest of tasks to dive over and score.

Scores level going into the final seconds of the game, Keswick were given a scrum 15 metres from the home team try-line. The visitors pushed forward, and were awarded a penalty. Michael Tucker was shown a yellow card, but it mattered not. The penalty kick was successful and the referee blew for full-time, with the scoreboard reading: Guisborough 17 points, Keswick 20 points.

It was a cruel way to end the game. Guisborough more than matched their opponents and on another day would have deservedly won the game, but it was not to be.

Other results in the league conspired into Guisborough dropping into the relegation places. A trip to Morpeth on the last weekend (Sat 5th April) of the league season awaits. Playing like they did against Keswick, a positive result is achievable.
Photo by Jerry Mad.