The game at Brinkburn was a distinctly unusual affair as West and Keswick shared 14 tries -  mainly thanks to some poor tackling at crucial times by both teams.

 Both clubs went in to the game with rearranged sides.  West fielding three Academy player and Keswick having to call off their second team game because of call-ups to the Firsts.

The home team looked the stronger side throughout after  Alex Barker gave his side an early lead (above) on his recall to the back row. However, the final score looked tighter than it perhaps should thanks to the final passage of play.

West were comfortably leading 45-34 and looked like they would pass the 50 point mark when Hayden Hodgson,  celebrating his call-up to the North of England Under 18s, charged down a kick in the Keswick 22. The ball fell kindly to fellow replacement Isaac Robinson who simply had to collect to go under the posts. Uncharacteristically,  he knocked on to give Keswick a  scrum from which centre Ryan Weir marked a fine game by bulldozing his way to the West 22. Winger Ben Pepper was in support to give his side a second, and deserved,  bonus point. Ben Clark’s conversion ending the proceedings.

Defences had been on top in the league game at Keswick which the home team won 19-13,  but it was the opposite at Brinkburn. The first try came after just three minutes when Jobe Roxby’s crossfield kick found Sam Knight – a  threat  all game – and he was able to slip the ball to Barker for an easy run in.

Keswick came back to lead with a well-worked try on the right. Centre Weir getting his first of the afternoon by finishing off the move followed by a score from full back Dan Craghill.

Both conversions were wide and West soon regained the lead with Roxby going on the short from a scrum to send Max Tennant in at the corner - the fly-half adding the conversion.

The home side kept up the pressure with full back Matt Siddle keen to join the line whenever he could,  and he set Knight away for his first try of the afternoon with the winger able to gallop round behind the posts after sidestepping the defence.

Roxby added the extras and he was the involved in the best move of the afternoon with Ollie Connolly leading the way as the backs showed some slick handling to send Kieran Scollay over (above)

West were 26-10 up after just 30 minutes of play, but once again Keswick came back with experienced No.8 Peter Weightman unstoppable from a tap penalty  ten metres out. Again just too wide for the conversion.

A tremendous break from Connolly led to West getting the try bonus point. The centre was eventually stopped 15 metres short after setting off through the heart of the Keswick defence from the half-way line. However, the pressure led to Keswick’s clearance kick from inside their dead ball area hitting a post and rebounding out of play. From the five metre scrum Roxby going on the short side to evade his tackler with ease

At 31-15 West looked to be coasting,  but Keswick were able to make the most of their chances all afternoon with Weir getting his second,  and his side’s try bonus point, after racing through a big gap in the home defence.

It was 38-22 at the break and the scoring continued soon after the restart. West Man of the Match Kieran Scollay quick to seize on a knock-on in the Keswick 22 to go to give his side a 16-point lead.

Back came the Cumbrians with fly-half Clark also benefiting from poor  defence to go over from a tap penalty which he successfully converted.

It was West’s turn to score the next try and it went to dangerman Knight who finished off in style  (above) after Siddle put him into space. Roxby’s conversion ending his side’s scoring for the afternoon with 12 minutes left on the clock.

However, Keswick weren’t  finished and their cause was helped when Siddle was yellow carded as he got in the way of an attacker as Keswick chased down a kick into the West 22.  Weir took advantage of the extra man to go over from his hat-trick try with the missed conversion ensuring an 11- point lead for the home side.

That was to prove vital as that final play saw West fail to create an 18-point margin and that man Weir influential in reducing it to just four.

Next up for West is a trip to Morpeth in two weeks’ time. The Northumbrians will be looking to bounce back after a shock 75-5 drubbing at Consett and West will  need to put on a more pragmatic performance if they are to come back with the points .

West: Matt Siddle, Sam Knight, Kieran Scollay, Ollie Connolly, Max Tennant, Jobe Roxby, Joe Cholmondeley, Andrew Rollins, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Adam Hutchinson, Elliott Reed, Connr McLurg, Alex Barker, Charlie Kay, Chris Atkins (capt).

Reps (All used): Hayden Hodgson, Isaac Robinson, Max Tobin.

Tries: Barker, Knight (2), Scollay (2), Tennant, Roxby.

Cons: Roxby (5)

Yellow: Siddle

Keswick: Dan Craghill, Frazer Murray, Ryan Weir, Jack Tinkler, Ben Pepper, Ben Clark, Lewis Pepper, Lewis Davis,  Garry Holmes, John Addyman, Lance Lake, Jamie Wlison, Chistian Sellars, Lewis Bell, Peter Weightman (capt).

Reps (all used):Keelan Johnson, Jack Park, Alex Slaughter-Crisp.

Tries: Weir (3), Craghill, Weightman, Clark, Pepper.

Cons: Clark (3)

Referee: Louis Dinsdale (Durham).