Keighley make it 6 wins in a row to top table at Christmas

Leodiensians 6 Keighley 18
by Sam Griffin
Keighley’s performance after last weeks demolition of league leaders Wetherby was distinctly lack lustre. They only managed to settle the result in the last fifteen minutes of the game. Leo’s realising that they had to keep the ball away from the visiting forwards worked really hard to provide quick breakdown ball and try their luck in the wide open spaces. With the dynamic duo of scrum half Wiff Watkinson and his partner outside half Ted Farmer in fine form Keighley were trapped in their own half and under pressure, which eventually led to a long distance penalty for Farmer. Keighley with scrum dominance gained penalties and took play deep into Leo’s territory, however the home teams defensive line speed and sound tackling nullified any threats that they had to offer. Leos were quick to break out of defence and were very adept at chipping the ball over defenders into open space, once again the pressure told and another penalty for Farmer. Towards the end of the half Keighley raised the tempo and moved the ball quickly but they were guilty of playing too much rugby in their own half and getting nowhere due to the hard work of Leos forwards and the control of their back line.

At the start of the second half Keighley had defaulted to their strengths, using the forwards and straight running centre Adam Horsfall to drive play up the middle, their efforts were rewarded with a penalty for fullback Jack Atkinson. Unfortunately for Keighley they once again went off the boil and their play lacked bite, giving the home team defence the upper hand. Their only reward from a great deal of possession was a further penalty for Atkinson. With the scores level Keighley were trying hard to break the stalemate, but once again were launching their attacks too far out giving the Leos defence the chance to adjust. Leos big defensive effort eventually took its toll, and some great line breaks from centre Alfie Seeley and second row Ed Keighley ably supported by open side Olly Snowden began to squeeze the life out of Leos once dominant defence. An advancing Keighley scrum in midfield gave the backs the rare chance of space and a well taken try for winger Alan Ebbrell. As the final whistle approached Keighley began to take control and some hard yards from second row Ed Keighley led to a maul, the ball was moved quickly to centre Seeley who stepped through the defence to give a try scoring pass to his centre partner Horsfall who splashed down under the posts, Atkinson added the conversion. A victory for Keighley that enabled them to maintain their position as league leaders going into the new year, but they had to work much harder than they expected for the points against a tenacious opposition.