Keswick Rugby Club and Wigton played out a close match in Cumbria League One with the result in doubt until the final minute.

In the end, the league leaders emerged 18-13 winners to maintain their grip on top spot, although a big win for Aspatria helped them close the gap to eight points.

Keswick started strongly, meeting some strong Wigton defence, while not helping themselves with some wild passing.

In fact, it was Wigton who scored first after a couple of penalties had taken them to within five metres of the Keswick line. 

Initially, the defence held firm against forward drives but a popped pass allowed Richard Moffatt to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try on nine minutes.

Soon afterwards, Keswick lost two players to injury, which had an effect on both scrummaging and back play, leaving only one man on the bench.

However, they made good use of the penalties Wigton gave away and were able to exert some pressure before drawing level on 17 minutes. 

From a retreating scrum, the ball was run left for George Holme to cross for an unconverted try.

Both sides resorted to kicking for field position but the wind was deceptive and a number failed to have the desired result.

Both sides attacked in similar fashion, using the forwards to make ground before releasing the backs and it was from one of these that the next score came.

Pressing in the Keswick 22, Wigton were in the ascendancy but spilled the ball for Holme to gather and make an excellently-timed pass to Ryan Weir who outpaced the defence to run in from some 70 metres for an excellent but unconverted try on 20 minutes.

Another bout of kicking ended with a tackle in the air and a yellow card for a Keswick player on 26 minutes, which Wigton took advantage of.

Back in the Keswick half and with a man extra, they created an overlap for Lewis Plackett to score an unconverted try on the right to level the scores at the half-hour mark.

Play ebbed and flowed at the start of the second half until a penalty gave Keswick the throw-in to a line-out in the Wigton 22.

Mauled well by the forwards and making progress, they were told to use the ball by the referee and did so, running it right for Weir to score his second try, again unconverted, after 49 minutes.

Less than 10 minutes later, a penalty for not rolling away in the tackle in front of the posts allowed Wigton’s Dan Reed to cut the deficit to just two points.

With a win possible either way, play became intense as both sides attacked and defended hard while endeavouring to avoid giving away penalties.

However, both did concede penalties when attacking which allowed the defending side the chance to clear.

Eventually, pressure by Keswick in the Wigton 22 gave them a penalty advantage. Unable to cross the line, they were brought back and opted to kick for goal with Brian Storey increasing the lead which they held in a frantic finish from both sides.

It was a game that could have gone either way and was a credit to both sides, neither of which deserved to lose.

Aspatria’s forward power and backline precision earned nine tries in a 59-10 win over a young, promising Upper Eden side.

Aspatria’s No.8 Matthew Atkinson scored four of the tries, but even this was out shone by a man-of-the-match performance from back-row, Andy Holcroft. It was near-impossible to count how many times a Holcroft tackle ended a promising move from the visitors.

In a tight west Cumbrian derby played at Lowca Rugby League Club, Whitehaven beat hosts St Benedict’s 20-19.

It had looked to be in Benny’s hands at half-time when they led 12-3 with tries from Andrew Dutton and coach Ian McQuire, one of them converted by Ryan Fisher.

They had also gone close through Aiden Pirie and Mark Routledge but were pegged back just before half-time by a Steve McConnell penalty. 

McConnell landed a second penalty and then converted a try by Jamie Martin to edge Whitehaven in front.

Adam Ramsden got over again for Whitehaven and McConnell converted but, with virtually the last attack of the game, Andrew Middleton scored a try for Benny’s, converted by Fisher.

Cockermouth remain a point behind Aspatria after a 38-19 home win against Hawcoat Park.

The current top three are now guaranteed to be playing in the top-four play-offs over the second-half of the season.