Good luck to the Cumbrians in next week’s final at Mowden Park against Midlands side Olney. They earned their place as Mewse kicked 23 of his side’s points - including a penalty from his own half. By all accounts Kieran is a confidence kicker who has his off-days, but on a calm day on the banks of the Derwent this was not one of them.

Their four tries were testament to West’s superiority in open play, but as the game went on the first half advantage in  the scrum and line-out waned, and with Mewse keeping the in the game Keswick fought hard for the win in front of a big and noisy crowd.

The Bank Holiday and injuries meant three changes in the pack with Jake Linighan drafted in at No.8 to replace Chris Atkins, Charlie Kay alongside him in place of Isaac Robinson and Jonny Wray in the second row in place of Will Corbett. The backs were as strong as West can field specially with young speedsters Jacob Wood and Sam Knight on the bench.

Keswick were quick off the blocks with Mewse getting his account going as he slotted a straightforward penalty from the 22 as West strayed offside.

The visitors came back  -pushing Keswick off their own scrum ball and with Connor McLurg charging down an attempted clearance. Max Tennant then almost got on the end of chip kick from Matt Siddle only to be flattened as two Keswick players also went for the ball.

The pressure continued with a kick to the corner after a high tackle on McLurg. Keswick were able to get out of trouble with a goal-line drop out but couldn’t stop Matt Siddle from getting his side’s first try after 28 minutes.Again, it came from a line-out with Ollie Connolly selling a delightful dummy to create space for Siddle to go in under the posts (above) with Connolly giving his side a 7-3 lead.

Mewse reduced the arrears to just one point with his second penalty and then gave his side the lead with another - this time from the half way line.

West have had a habit of conceding tries with the last play of the half but this time they were the ones to go into the break with a smile on their faces. Tennant (above)  got the try on the right after coming off his left wing as Connolly once again created space as West attacked in the 22. The conversion was missed but West were looking good for the 12-9 lead.

Unfortunately, it only lasted a few seconds of game time. From the restart Jake Linighan was unable to take the ball  - instead kicking it forward where Jack Angus was clearly offside and  Mr Mewse delighted to level the scores

Keswick then did get their only try of the game with a well-worked move up the right. Winger Ben Metcalfe finishing smartly in the corner – no problem for the immaculate Mewse to add the extras.

It took five minutes for the visitors to draw level again. More pressure in the home 22 saw both Ollie Webster and Jake Linighan make holes in the defence after replacement second row Nick Bennions had made a charge through the middle.

Connor McLurg was in support and was just able to reach out to touchdown as he was tackled on the line  with Connolly converting. West continued to press, but with both their line-out and scrum starting to creak, Mewse again took advantage with a successful kick after a scrum penalty.

Play was the held up as Keswick No 8 Steve Moss suffered a serious ankle injury,  and it’s to be hoped he is back on the field for the start of next season.

When play resumed Mewse was again called into action this time slotting a penalty from a few metres inside his own half to take the score to 25-19,  before he delivered what proved to be the killer blow. This time he was successful wit a drop goal from outside the West 22 to give his side a two-score lead with five minutes left on the clock.

West did give it one last go with concerted pressure on the home line seeing Charlie Kay go over after Bennions had charged at the defence from a tap penalty. Connolly unfortunately shanked his conversion attempt as he was looking to get back for the restart as the clock kicked down

At 28-24 West needed a fifth try to earn that place in the final but Keswick were able to hold on without too much trouble.

A strange end to a season where West will be happy finishing sixth in the league after promotion from Durham and Northumberland One. However, this wasn’t the only game where they scored four tries or more and lost. Food for thought during the summer months.

Keswick: Dan Craghill, Ben Metcalf, Ryan Weir, Will Addyman, Joe Allday, Kieran Mewse, Matt Roper, Dan Allaker, Henry Etisoy, Michael Tait, Mark Trow, Aaron Thompson (capt), Karl Smyth, Leis Bell, Steve Moss.

Reps: Glen Weightman, James Hinkley, Lance lake, Alex Hewett-Smith, Sam Holt, Benm Clark, Steve Holloway.

Try: Metcalfe.

Con: Mewse.

Pens: Mewse (6)

Drop Goal: Mewse.

West: Matt Siddle, Lewis Scott, Will Hilditch, Ollie Connolly, Max Tenant, Ryan Painter (capt), Matt Baggs, Jack Angus, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Ollie webster, Jonny Wray, Connor McLurg, Charlie Kay, Jake Linighan.

Reps: Sam Knight, Jacob Wood, Tim Blades, Nick Bennions, Liam Pennick.

Tries: Siddle, Tennant, McLurg, Kay.

Cons: Connolly (2).

Referee: Ricky Handa (Northumberland).

Touch Judges: Archie Harding (Cumbria), Simon O’Neill (Northumberland).