Keighley Under 9’s v Baildon Under 9/10’s at Baildon - 28th February 2010

Starting Team
Jack Rodborne
James Field
Harry Gould
Harvey Bird
Tom Richardson
Will Halliday
Keir Welch
Lennon Curr
Alex Wormersley
Subs: - Joseph Myers - Zac Scott - Joss McArthur - Aaron Wilson - Kian Saunders

Match Report

A mixed age (Under 9 and Under 10) Baildon team attempted to halt Keighley’s powerful forwards in the second game of the morning.
Within 15 seconds of the start Keighley had posted their intention as Scrum Half Lennon Curr started the game with a short pass to Keir Welch who slid the ball the James Field who sprinted diagonally from his half of the pitch into the corner to score Keighley’s first of the game with an almost uncontested run.
Baildon (0) – Keighley (1) 5 – 15 seconds.
Keighley turned over the ball straight from the restart but the fresh Baildon boys resisted well. Quick ball from a Baildon line out allowed them to set up a chance on the Keighley left but a stolen ball and a jinking run by Welch who was in sparkling form set up Jack Rodborne to score in the left corner with Baildon seemingly powerless to halt “Rhino” the powerful Keighley Prop.
Baildon (0) – Keighley (2) 10 – 3 Minutes.
Keighley continued to build good attacks and with Will Halliday in imperious tackling form they were a match for anything Baildon could throw at them. A breakdown in the centre let Tom Richardson free to drive towards the Baildon line but under extreme pressure, the ball was released again to Rodborne who pulled 3 Baildon players with him over the line to score his second of the day.
Baildon (0) – Keighley (3) 15 – 4 Minutes.
Baildon didn’t give up and a period of pressure saw them gain territory well into the Keighley half and almost capitalised on some poor handling from the Keighley backs but from a ruck on the Keighley ¼, Alex Wormersley cleared out the Baildon attack but was forced into touch on the 5 yard line.
Baildon continued to press and Harry Gould as an unfamiliar last man, made a try saving tackle on 2 yards.
Keighley pushed forward and Harvey Bird’s powerful surge allowed them to clear their lines but Baildon resistance was strong. Despite pressuring close to the Baildon try line, Keighley could not break through and were almost caught unawares by a quickly taken Baildon penalty but swift reaction by Curr and Richardson saved the day when they forced the Baildon attack into touch.
Good quick ball from the resulting line out left Baildon exposed on the left flank but they managed to repel another Keighley attack. Quick thinking from Field and Curr allowed Halliday to steal the ball, slip 2 tackles and then power over in the left corner to score Keighley’s 4th try with the last play of the half.
Half Time – Baildon (0) 0 - Keighley (4) 20
Keighley again changed their formation at the start of the second half but that didn’t stop their surge forward in the opening exchanges. Zac Scott jinked his way past half of the Baildon team but was forced into touch only 2 yards from the Baildon line.
Keighley pushed and again won loose ball, with Joss McArthur first to react from indecision on the Baildon line and when play broke down into another maul with Keighley pressing forward, Aaron Wilson slipped the ball to Richardson who kept his head to touch down under pressure.
Baildon (0) 0 – Keighley (5) 25 – 12 Minutes.
Baildon then had their best spell of the match for a few minutes and pressed the Keighley line hard. However, resilient tackling from
From a Keighley line out Richardson slid the ball to Joseph Myers having his best spell of the half and a strong surge with a slick pass to Wormersley who fed Curr who recycled to Welch kept Keighley in the driving seat. But Welch took a knock and was replaced by Kian Saunders.
Keighley had 80% of the possession but Baildon were not giving away any territory and both teams traded scrums and penalties until poor handling by Baildon from a lineout on their ¼ allowed Wormersley to steal and surge over the line to score Keighley’s 6th of the match
Baildon (0) 0 – Keighley (6) 30 – 17 Minutes.
From the restart Wormersley again stole the ball with some forceful approach play and Curr jinked his way down the right sideline, stepped inside a desperate tackle to score in the far corner.
Baildon (0) 0 – Keighley (7) 35 – 18 Minutes.
For the final 2 minutes of the game Keighley played some well organised controlled rugby, moving across the width and recycling the ball at every opportunity but Baildon's shaky defence stayed firm until the final whistle blew.
Final Score – Baildon (0) 0 – Keighley (7 Tries) 35 Points
Keighley Scorers: - Field 1, Rodborne 2, Halliday 1, Richardson 1, Wormersley 1, Curr 1.
“We started this game with the impetus we gained from the first game and we quickly gained the upper hand over a team who could have caused us big problems” said Coach Nigel Curr. “We are really beginning to pass and recycle the ball as a team now and everyone is giving 100% in the tackle. We will continue to build on this and put what we’re teaching during training into practice during the matches to come” he added.