1st XV win first game of 2023-24 Counties 1 - Yorkshire Season

Hullensians 31 Keighley 34
Sam Griffin
A successful two game pre league preparation paid dividends for Keighley. An away trip to Hullensians was never going to be an easy start to the league season, and so it proved. Hullensians celebrating their hundredth year in existence started brightly putting the visitors defence to the test. Weathering the early pressure Keighley went through the phases gaining a well taken try for hooker Ross Lacey, converted by Alex Brown. A little later Brown landed a long distance penalty. With their tails up and playing some good rugby to suit the sunny weather outside half Brown found winger Alan Ebbrell coming through the middle at pace, drawing the last defender to put Alfie Sealy over in the corner, once again Brown added the difficult conversion. Towards the end of the half The Hullensians put their game together and some good work in the middle led to a try for winger Harrison Holmes. Just before the half time whistle the Hullensian hooker was red carded for foul play, Brown finished the scoring with a further penalty.

Playing against fourteen men and the advantage of a fifteen point lead Keighley were confident of a win, especially after a break through the centre by Sean Kelly and a try for Jack Wild. However Hullensians were determined not to give up and through shear hard work from the forwards and some lovely skills in the backs centre Ben Stutely broke free to score, converted by captain Sam Furbank. At this point of the game the Hullensian outside half Josh Abbott began to control the game, with his centres Furbank and Stutely understanding his runs Keighley were finding it difficult to close them down and plug the gaps in the wide open spaces, which led to a second try for Stutely, once again converted by Furbank. Thankfully the Keighley forwards stopped the rot, with some excellent scrummaging against a bigger pack, and some strong runs from the second row pair of James Bell and Ed Keighley they took play deep into opposition territory, the phase play was completed by a drive over from centre Kelly, who unfortunately dislocated his shoulder in the process, Brown added the conversion. Hullensians once again raised their game and a really well worked move in midfield gave winger Owen Millward a run in to score in the corner. A little later a promising Keighley attack was thwarted with an illegal shoulder charge that led to a further red card. Playing against thirteen men did not appear to make much difference to Keighley, Hullensians were determined to give it all they had and managed successfully to keep Keighley on the back foot. Once again good play in the backs gave outstanding outside half Abbott a well deserved try between the posts, converted by Furbank. With a few minutes remaining and a three point lead Keighley managed to run the clock down to earn a bonus point victory. A good game of rugby between two well matched teams both of which on this performance will end up in the top end of the league table.
Next week both 1st XV and Stags travel to Wetherby - 3pm KO.
3rds at Home to Skipton 2