Keswick finished the season’s first phase as Cumbria League leaders after they beat Whitehaven 19-8 in the final game. It meant Whitehaven missed out on a top four spot, finishing fifth.

A kick to the Keswick 22 led to a penalty as Keswick came in offside and on 13 minutes Haven took the lead with a Steve McConnell conversion.

Battling into the wind and rain, the Keswick scrum was in the ascendancy and five metres out from the Haven line their pressure proved too much for the hosts and the referee awarded them a penalty try.

But it was Haven who led 8-7 at the break after Luke Scott caught a Keswick clearance kick and ran back at them, he forced his way past several would-be tackles to score an unconverted try.

Early in the second half Keswick were awarded a second penalty try to lead 14-8 but Haven came back strongly.

A kick through by Haven was thwarted as Keswick turned the ball over, only to be forced across their own line to touch down. A good period of pressure by Haven followed but they were unable to turn position and possession into points and eventually Keswick cleared.

Much of the game was now being played in the Haven half as good kicking from hand combined with driving play meant Keswick had most of the possession.

On 55 minutes Keswick turned down the chance to kick for goal from a penalty in front of the posts 20 metres out, opting instead for a scrum. That scrum made good progress before the ball was run left with George Holme looping round to create an overlap that allowed Joe Bagnall to touch down on the left for an unconverted try, It was the last score of the game.

In the other game, also in Whitehaven, St.Benedict’s beat Upper Eden 19-13 but stay bottom a point behind both Saturday’s opponents and Hawcoat Park,Wigton convincingly clinched fourth place in Cumbria League One with an emphatic 62-0 home win over Hawcoat Park.

In equally appalling conditions Aspatria and Cockermouth went the distance but it was much tighter before the Black Reds clawed out a 14-5 win.

Aspatria’s Jack Clegg put an opening penalty over and then added a second shortly after.

When Cockermouth broke Aspatria’s domination of territory they produced a game changer on 36 minutes. From his own half stand-off Ed Gate found a gap in the defence and raced upfield. The cover eventually nailed him but Ben Irving was on hand to take advantage of the confusion and dart over. Gate hit the post with the conversion to leave Aspatria leading 9-5 at the break.

Cockermouth regained control from the re-start and the assault lasted 10 minutes and after Clegg had cleared well Cockermouth’s indiscipline cost them dearly, losing two players to yellow cards.

Aspatria were now able to take the game back to Cockermouth with several penalties easing their way.

On 65 minutes Aspatria declined a penalty attempt to go to the corner and gamble on a try. The line-out was perfect and back-row Phil Dixon roared off the back heading to the line. Dixon was brought down short but the ball was recycled to winger Jack Robinson who took the ball over.