An arm wrestle on the heavy pitch and an end of season tour of Keswick afterwards.

It was also the last league game to be played in the old traditional clubhouse at Davidson Park (work on a £1.75m replacement starts in May)  and with the home side needing a win to stay in Regional 2 North, in front of a big home crowd,  West were up against more than just the elements.

The game finished with both sides having scored two tries,  but it was the considerable number of penalties conceded by the visitors which was the deciding factor. Home full back Kieran Mewse slotting three with the storm at his back,  while West weren’t awarded any within kicking range.

The game kicked off 20 minutes late  after the appointed referee’s car suffered power steering problems as he made his way from Newcastle. Instead,  Martin Denvir was diverted from the Aspatria v Middlesbrough game to take charge.

On a sodden pitch, which had patches where the ball failed to bounce at all,  West had the benefit of the wind in the first half.  However, it was Keswick who got on the scoresheet first from a catch and drive with the kick impossible into the gale.

West came back and despite the conditions the young back line continued to show the same enterprise which had earned the side no less than 10 try bonus points. Jacob Wood almost got on the end of a deft kick from skipper Ryan Painter, unfortunately he couldn’t gather the greasy ball with the corner at his mercy and Keswick escaped with a 22 drop-out.

Five minutes later  the adventurous ganme  did pay off when Will Hilditch found Isaac Robinson out wide on the left with a lobbed pass -  the flanker able to dive over to level the scores at 5-5.

Unfortunately, the wind and greasy ball thwarted efforts to add to that score - together with tremendous work from Keswick who tackled knowing their league survival depended on it.

With some experienced heads in their ranks Keswick  continued to battle and regained their lead on the half-hour. Fly-half Glen Weightman taking a clearing kick in his own half and forcing his way through several tackles before kicking into the West 22. Full back Sam Knight had the kick covered but the referee ruled that Connor McLurg had late tackled the Keswick playmaker and the resulting penalty was in West 22. Keswick seized their chance with a series of drives which saw them go over next to the posts to set up an easy conversion to take the score to 12-5.

West then lost hard-tackling  Ollie Connolly in slightly controversial circumstances.  The centre had  caught a pass from a Keswick player in open play and was both ruled offside and injured as he was tackled. He took no further part in proceedings with Max Tennant coming on - Mewse’s penalty attempt sailing wide of the posts.

Losing 12-7 and facing the gale in the second half West brought on fresh legs in the front row in the shape of Jack Angus and Tom Robertson. They contributed to a sterling defensive effort as Keswick were unable to add to their try tally despite having the wind in their favour. However, they were able to add three penalties to give themselves a comfortable 21-5 lead as the game entered the final ten minutes And it was a West side increasingly frustrated by the penalty count who had the last word. The backs continued to run at the opposition at every opportunity despite the gluepot conditions,  and when Hilditch and Tennant combined to take play into the home 22 the attack ended with prop Liam Pennick going over from close range under the posts (left). Siddle’s conversion just managing to beat the  wind.

 West’s season is not yet over and may even face Keswick once again at Brinkburn in the Papa John’s cup. Although there is a stern test ahead in that competition with the visit of Scarborough next Saturday with a 3.00 kick off. The Yorkshire side are unbeaten in their last nine games as they battled relegation.

Keswick: Kieran Mewse, Dan Price, Ryan Weir, Will Addyman, Dan Craghill, Glen Weightman, Matty Roper, Jamie McKenzie (capt), Henry Etisoy, Dan Allaker, Mark Trow, Karl Smyth, Lance Lake, Lewis Bell, Steve Moss.

Reps (all used); John Addyman, Bradley Quail, Ned Barnes.

Tries: Etisoy, Moss.

Con: Mewse.

Pens (3) Mewse.

Referee:

West: Sam Knight, Lewis Scott, Will Hilditch, Ollie Connolly, Jacob Wood, Ryan Painter (capt), Matt Siddle, Liam Pennick, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Will Corbett, Ollie webster, Connor McLurg, Isaac Robinson, Chris Akins.

Reps (all used); Tom Robertson, Jack Angus, Max Tennant.

Tries: Robinson, Pennick.

Con: Siddle

Referee: Martin Denvir (Cumbria).