Keswick Rugby Club's second-team stole the show on a barren afternoon for Cumbrian rugby union fans who like to be pitchside, rather than fireside!

There were no scheduled league games, which was probably fortuitous as most rugby pitches, including Keswick’s, were frozen.

But showing excellent foresight, the club shifted the second-team’s Robinsons Brewery Trophy quarter-final tie against New Brighton to the all-weather pitch at Penrith RFC.

They were able to reach the semi-final stage as a result of an exciting 35-28 victory.

New Brighton are in Sale Sharks Division Two South where it’s fair to say they are not having a good season.

Keswick’s first match in this competition, in September, was a very close 25-24 away win at Tyldesley, followed by an emphatic 60-0 win away at Whitchurch.

New Brighton had managed two fairly close home wins to get to the quarter-final but, otherwise, were an unknown quantity.

Facing a physically larger team, Keswick attacked from the whistle on a superb playing surface in bright sunshine, going 7-0 up after only two minutes. A twisting solo run from Chris Potter ended in a try, converted by Paul Ireland.

Shortly after the restart, the lead doubled as, from a line-out, the ball was run infield with some good passing between forwards and backs before a final offload from Lewis Thompson allowed Cameron Farrow to touch down under the posts. Again, Ireland landed the conversion.

The next score came on the half-hour when a great solo run from winger Danny Price saw him outpace three defenders to score, again converted by Ireland to take the lead out to 21-0.

It was clear by now that while New Brighton, with the physically heavier pack, were dominating the scrums, Keswick were getting the better of the line-outs and had the faster backs.

As if to reinforce Keswick’s first-half dominance, Ireland was on the scoresheet again only two minutes later, scoring his own try before adding the conversion himself.

Now facing a likely heavy defeat, New Brighton put a lot of pressure on the Keswick line and, on two occasions, it was only stout defence from the hosts that prevented them from reducing the lead before the break.

After the high-scoring and general Keswick dominance of the first half, it looked for a while as if the second half would see less points scored, despite New Brighton now being in the ascendancy.

They were helped in this by the loss through injury of three Keswick forwards early in the half, with a centre and man-of-the-match Josh Graves, among those having to come into the pack.

As the third quarter was coming to an end, the New Brighton outside centre put in a great run from deep in his own half before making a pass that created a try under the post which was converted.

Five minutes later, a try from distance after a break-out saw them halve Keswick’s lead with a converted try.

Fortunately, as it turned out, Keswick soon extended their lead as on 65 minutes a good run from James Sant down the left saw him score a try, followed by an excellent conversion from Ireland.

Now seemingly in the clear again, Keswick gifted New Brighton a try as an interception led to a converted try to cut the lead to 35-21 three minutes later.

The strength of the New Brighton pack then came into play as they pushed Keswick back across their line on 73 minutes for the game’s ninth try, again converted.

A converted try would have put the visitors level so the last few minutes were very tense but Keswick held on for a win to reach the semi-final.

That match will be away to the winners of the postponed Bowdon 2nd XV versus Chester 3rd XV game on Saturday, March 16.

The 2nd XV are at home again on Saturday, facing Tarleton who are four places above them in the County Courier Services Division Two North.