A different matter for the Bucks who hosted Durham City Thirds in the County Cup and running out 55-36 winners in a highly entertaining game. On his return to rugby, after three or four years out, centre Tom Carling scored three tries,  with teenage back row Louis Ward continuing to attract attention with a solo length of the field try. The Bucks will npw host Mowden Park IIIs in the next round at Brinkburn on Saturday November 1st - kick off at 2.00.

None of that kind of rugby across the A66. West did make an excellent scoring start after just two minutes. Quick ball and support saw Jobe Roxby put a deft chip kick into the corner, which was gathered and quickly recycled  with Nick Bennions stretching out to get his sixth try in just five games (above). He was sent through the gap by Aidan Jackson-Smith who went on to be awarded his third Man of the Match in a row,

It looked for the next few minutes as though the visitors would go on to build a big score – Ollie Connolly did race over the line but play was brought back for a crossing infringement

Keswick’s defence then became the defining factor of a game which quickly settled into an arm wrestle. Frequent infringements and poor handling the order of the day for both sides.

Keswick reduced the deficit with a penalty from fly-half Kieran Mewse,  before Roxby slotted one of his own after Peter Youll was high tackled.

Mewse was then able to cut West’s lead to just four points after Max Siddle was unable to collect a high kick on his 22 - instead knocking the ball onto one of his own players who was offside. Half-time Keswick 6 West 10.

However, it didn’t take long for the home side to take the lead with  the score coming in slightly unusual circumstances . Keswick opting  to take a tap penalty just inside the West 22. Instead of the ball being tapped out of the hand it was dropped onto the foot. It looked like an accident,  but it did come off the boot, as per the laws,  and was popped up to an onrushing Peter Weightman. Only West’s Andrew Rollins was alert to  the danger, but he wasn’t able to stop Weightman who found the rest of the West defence on their own line looking confused by proceedings. Mewse adding the extras to give his side a three point lead.

On a fine day for rugby there was hope the game would open up in the second half. It didn’t. Frustration set in as West couldn’t find a way through the defence,  with the home side working hard to maintain their lead without ever really threatening the West line.

West did come back with some concerted pressure which saw a penalty awarded 15 metres out. With the visiting scrum getting the best of the exchanges, the option to go for seven points instead of three was taken. Unfortunately, it  came to nothing when the ball was dropped as Youll and Connolly looked to make a break through the centres.

The scores which did come came through the boot of the two excellent kickers on show. Kieran Mewse taking  the score to 16-10 after a high-tackle 30 metres out.

West have seen Mewse slot penalties from his own half in previous games and, with very little wind, it looked like he might  do again. The penalty award was deep in the Keswick half but back chat put it in Mewse’s range.

This time his kick was just wide. However, he was given two more opportunities in quick succession – this time  both in the West half. The first came back off a post but the second, awarded for more West back chat, sailed through the posts.

There was only a few minutes left and West now needed two scores to win the game. Instead,  they had to settle for a losing bonus point as the home side were penalised for going off their feet with Roxby's penalty  taking the final score to 19-13.

It was a small reward for a side which  had worked hard despite being  once again much changed. There may be one or two “regulars” back in contention next week as we entertain Morpeth on Ladies Day.

Keswick: Dan Allday, Ryan Weir, Ben Clark, Jack Tinkler, Dan Price, Kieran Mewse, Joe Allday, Garry Holmes, Aleksander Hewett-Smith, Lewis Davis, Mark Trow, Karl Smyth, Peter Weightman (capt), Liam Quail, Jamie Wilson.

Reps ( all used):John Addyman, Matt Atkinson, Callum McClary.

Try: Weightman.

Con: Mewse.

Pens: Mewse (4)

West: Matt Siddle, Will Hilditch, Ollie Connolly, Peter Youll, Ben Reed, Jobe Roxby, Matt Baggs, Liam Pennick, Sidan Jackson-Smith, Andrew Rollins (capt), Nick Bennions,  Ryan O’Keefe, Charlie Kay, Mauro Rocha, Alex Barker.

Reps (all used): Kyle Jamieson, Hayden Hodgson, Connor McLurg.

Try: Bennions

Con: Roxby

Pens: Roxby (2)

Referee: Martin Denvir (Cumbria)