First match of 2016 and it's a WIN

With six players missing Keighley made the away trip to take on a very strong Bradford Salem side that beat us convincingly in the reverse fixture.

Keighley started the game in familiar fashion with strong ball carrying and offloads from a very strong pack. We dominated the early exchanges with great forwards play from the likes of Johnny Atherton, Max Wild and Lucas Keslinke making yards at will. A great last ditch defence from Salem meant they turned Keighley over and relieved pressure with a clearance kick, unfortunately for them it fell into the arms of Denon Sokee, who likes nothing more than to run and beat defenders and this he did rounding six or seven defenders to score under the posts, conversion added by Gregor Curr.

Keighley fell asleep soon after this electric start and Salem made them pay for it with a quick fire unconverted try by their forwards. Towards the end of the first half after great scrummaging from the front row (Johnny Atherton, Wilf Marshall and Sam Usman) Keighley used a quick ball from scrum half Nathan Pickles to Gregor Curr, who gave the centre partnership of Kristian Bealey-Kay and Jack Smith time and space to attack. An interception from the Salem winger stalled the Keighley attack. Salem looked sure to score but for a great cover tackle from full back Arron Hands who forced a knock on, from the resulting scrum the backs again looked lively with quick ball Keighley attacked from their own 22, shipping the ball again with ease to Sokee to round his winger and cut inside the full back to score, try converted by Curr.

Half time = Keighley 14 vs Bradford Salem 17

Keighley started the second half as they ended the first dominating in both the backs and forwards. The forwards led by the exceptional Lucas Keslinke and ever present Mason Sokee. Mason Sokee made a great break down the centre of the pitch leading to quick ball from the ruck to winger Bradley Powell to draw the last man and give Jack Smith space to run in for a well worked try, conversion hit the upright.

So the game is in the balance with Keighley leading by 2 points with twenty minutes to go. For the next 10 minutes it was a stalemate with both teams showing a great level of skill in both attack and defence, with time ticking away Salem just started to impose themselves on the breakdown causing Keighley to throw silly pass after silly pass losing yards. The pressure enabled Salem to turn Keighley over and drive down the centre of the park to score just right of the posts, conversion missed.

Salem now lead by three points with 5 minutes left on the clock, Keighley bombarding the Salem try line running them left to right using their forwards well and it looked as though it worked with Bradley Powell receiving the ball in the wide channel he was unlucky not to score after a Salem player conceded a penalty and received a yellow card for a trip. With shouts of a penalty try from the touchline by parents and coaches, the Keighley boys carried on and drove in field with tap penalty, Keighley built and gained more confident in going forward. With the last play of the game flanker Toby Stephens picked and went from the base of the ruck to beat the last defender and put down for a well-deserved team try, conversion missed.

Full time - Keighley 24 vs Bradford Salem 22

So after 5 weeks of no game time both teams can be proud of the heart and effort shown on the pitch. It was a great result for Keighley who had struggled for consistency this season but what a great start to the New Year. All the coaches and parents were very proud.

Man of the match: Lucas Keslinke