Keighley Under 9’s v Skipton Under 9’s at Keighley - Game 1

Squad
Jack Rodborne
Harry Gould
James Field
Tom Richardson
Zac Scott
Joseph Myers
Keir Welch
Aaron Wilson
Joss McArthur
Lennon Curr
Kian Saunders
Alex Womersley
Harvey Bird
Austin Flaherty
Callum Hand

Match Report

Game 1

Keighley started with a flourish and after the Easter break were keen to impress. Quick ball from the ever eager Aaron Wilson across the line to James Field and then to Keir Welch and Kian Saunders saw them take the play straight to the Skipton try line in the first phase. However, a knock-on by Joseph Myers gave Skipton the honour of the first scrum of the game on their 5 yard line.
Keighley challenged the ball straight from the scrum and Field was first to pounce on a dropped ball to score Keighley’s first try in the corner inside 90 seconds.

Keighley (1) 5 – Skipton (0) 0 – 3 minutes.

With Keighley’s impressive scoring record, Skipton must have feared the worst but they were determined not to be overrun.
Despite some good possession from Keighley, play was interspersed by poor handling from both sides and some resolute defending from the visitors.
When Skipton had the opportunity to attack, they rarely made any yardage into the Keighley half such was the ferocity of the Keighley defending with Zac Scott, Joss McArthur and Tom Richardson particularly effective.
Unable to break through with their usual style of open play, Keighley began to become frustrated and instead of releasing the ball across the line as they had in the first 5 minutes of play, they attempted to run the ball to the line but this tactic was snuffed out by solid work from the Skipton defence.

Half Time - Keighley (1) 5 – Skipton (0) 0

The Keighley Coaches made a number of forward line changes at half time when the and started the second half in determined mood with Harvey Bird and Austin Flaherty particularly aggressive going forward.
With Jack Rodborne showing some fine touches and driving well, Keighley pushed hard but in a heavy tackle Lennon Curr took a knock on the knee and was replaced by Alex Womersley whose impact was immediate. A saving tackle and quick off load to Scott gave the Centre a chance to storm across diagonally, jinking his way past a struggling Skipton back line to score in the left corner.

Keighley (2) 10 – Skipton (0) 0 – 15 minutes.

From the restart Keighley stepped up the pressure and began to build patiently, moving the ball in phases across the pitch.
A well worked scrum just inside the Skipton half gave Welch the chance to spread play and quick ball to Womersley and Rodborne gave Field the chance to show a clean pair of heels to the chasing Skipton pack making ground almost unchallenged with Wilson free on the outside to touch down in the exposed Skipton left flank.

Keighley (3) 15 – Skipton (0) 0 – 17 minutes.

Keighley’s power was now beginning to dominate the game and only determined tackling by some of the Skipton players kept the score under control and as the game neared its conclusion they made several forays into the Keighley half and put the home team’s defence under some pressure. In the closing seconds, Keighley won a line out on the left and from the feed, a resurgent Womersley powered over to score Keighley's 4th try of the match.

Final Score - Keighley (4 Tries) 20 Points – Skipton (0 Tries) 0 Points
Keighley Scorers: - Field 2, Scott 1, Womersley 1