Keswick Rugby Club emerged 19-7 winners against Wigton as Davidson Park staged first versus third in North Lancs/Cumbria.

They did it by the simple method of playing better than the visitors and, in the process, demonstrated that their position as league leaders is no fluke.

Keswick were an enthusiastic, fit, mobile group who played well as a team, the best that Wigton have faced this season.

Much of their best play centred around their centres of contrasting physiques; Harry Vaillant and Andy Muir. Their pack were a good unit but seemed ball winners and providers rather than heavy duty ball carriers.

The home side made the better start and dominated possession and territory for the first 20 minutes.

They moved first phase ball wide quickly, looking to make use of Vaillant’s elusive running while Muir mixed play up with some good tactical kicking.

For much of this period, Wigton’s defence held firm and managed to draw handling errors.

However, Wigton were unable to find the accuracy and composure to play their way out of trouble.

The opening score came when Keswick got a drive going from a line-out on the Wigton 22, building up terrific momentum and bundling over the line for a try by Muir which he converted himself.

But at least the score brought play back to midfield and Wigton looked to hit back. A penalty enabled them to throw into a line-out 35 yards out but what followed next had a huge bearing on the course of the game.

The ball was won and passed out. Fly-half David Hanabury combined with inside-centre Oliver Lewis to cut the midfield wide open and he picked a great line to receive a short pass and was apparently straight through and under the posts.

There was some confusion when the exchange referee blew his whistle to call play back as he had initially been playing advantage.

However, instead he showed a red card to Wigton prop Kevin Robinson who had tried to persuade an opponent to let go of his leg by injudicious use of the boot. This put Wigton under a severe handicap for the remainder of the game, especially at the scrums.

Ironically, Wigton were stirred into action by being reduced to 14 men and most of the rest of the half saw them attacking in the Keswick 22. However, it was the turn of the home defence to show its mettle and keep Wigton at bay.

Wigton’s hill to climb became more mountainous shortly after half-time.

Full-back Michael Bunting was underneath a Wigton clearance and started a counter-attack down the right. Quick ball was won and slick passing produced an overlap for left winger Bruce Rigby to squeeze over in the corner for an unconverted try.

The remainder of the game was pretty even with both teams having periods of pressure.

Crucially, already handicapped, started to pick up knocks with John Story coming on as a forward replacement barely lasting five minutes before having to depart with a nasty gash on his nose. They had already seen second row Robert Marrs limp off the field.

However, Wigton were finally able to get some momentum going with a maul that made good progress towards the try-line. Keswick pulled it down and gave away the first of a series of short-range penalties.

Second-row Mark Deans carried hard and was close to scoring, as was Dan Reed shortly afterwards. However, the pressure was finally made to pay when Hanabury wriggled his way through a couple of defenders for a try which Reed converted.

At 12-7, Wigton were right back in the match and had a sniff of a grandstand finish to grab a win.

But it was not to be as Keswick’s next piece of play effectively wrapped-up the game. It had an unpromising beginning as a poorly directed pass hit the turf.

However, as is often the case, the defence can be as disconcerted as the attackers when such a thing happens.

Vaillant reacted quickly, picking up the ball well in his own half and making more progress through defenders than anyone of his slight stature had any right to do.

He took play into the Wigton 22, pulling wide defenders in to cover.

When quick ball was moved right, winger Ryan Weir was able to score a decisive try. Muir’s conversion was a twist of the blade for Wigton, taking the lead out to 19-7.

Wigton continued to attack with great determination, Deans, as he had all afternoon, offering himself as a runner time and time again.

Individual tacklers fell off both him and Moffatt but support was there to prevent a clean line break.

Playing the last few minutes with 13 men after the returning Marrs had been shown a yellow card, Wigton continued to give it their all and denied Keswick a bonus-point fourth try.