A LATE try from Carrick Wharmby deprived Hawcoat Park of what would have been a memorable victory over Keswick in Cumbria Division One, as the league leaders snatched a 22-16 success last Saturday.

To a man, the Maroon and Whites’ squad put in a great team performance to run Keswick very close but at the end of the day, the impressive visitors just did enough to earn their victory.

Following an even start to the match, Keswick cranked up the pressure and opened the scoring when winger Ryan Weir made good ground down the right before timing his pass to put Christian Sellars in at the corner.

Their lead was extended to 12-0 when Mike Tait touched down off the back of a driving maul, following a line-out, but Hawcoat hit back quickly as Grady Slater forced his way over.

The gap was then reduced to four points thanks to George Smith’s penalty before Park went into half-time 13-12 ahead after Ryan Clegg finished well, following good work by Chris Burns.

Keswick’s Brian Storey and Smith then swapped penalties as the lead continued to switch hands in the second half, with the hosts 16-15 in front with ten minutes to play.

It was then that the visitors struck the killer blow, with Park’s Brad Morrow in the sin bin, as an attacking scrum was mauled over the try line, with lock Wharmby grounding the ball and Storey adding the conversion.