Harvey Bird
Lennon Curr
Bobby Darbyshire
Alexander Feather
James Field ©
Harry Gould
Will Halliday
Leon Hobson-Sheriff
Ethan Lawrie
Joss McArthur
Jack McHugh
Joseph Myers
Thomas Richardson
Jack Rodbourne
Freddie Seavers
Zachary Scott
Keir Welch
Aaron Wilson

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Bradford & Bingley Bees v Keighley

As in the Baildon Festival a few weeks ago, Keighley started much the brighter with some forceful play in the centre of the pitch with Forwards Harvey Bird, Joss McArthur and Jack Rodbourne strong in the scrum and Leon Hobson-Sheriff and Jack McHugh forceful at second row.

On 3 minutes, pressing forward, McArthur, ever strong in the maul released Leon Hobson-Sheriff allowing him open access through a static Bees defence to score in the corner. Lennon Curr converting.

Keighley continued to control the game into the second half with little to show for their efforts but were guilty of lazy tackling at times a mistake from the normally reliable Rodbourne gifted Bees a try when he fumbled on his own try line. With Ethan Lawrie released at inside centre and Will Halliday’s scurrying attacking, Keighley didn’t panic and played simple ball across the field from a scrum won against the head culminating in James Field’s dip into the corner to give advantage back to the Rose Cottagers. Curr making the conversion.

Keighley played out the game, good value for their first win.

Bradford & Bingley Bees 7 – Keighley 14 – Full Time
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Wharfedale v Keighley

Keighley’s demons return

Keighley took to the field determined to stem a recent run of defeats against rivals Wharfedale and started positively. They needed the strength of their forwards to come to the fore but failed to secure early ball and were holding their own until a disputed try, knocked on over the Keighley line saw ‘Dale open their account. Try converted.

Keighley always on the back foot, pressed forward with Joseph Myers making good ground in the centre and Halliday again picking up the scraps.

Harry Gould was at his best going forward but soft hands let him down and the subsequent turnover put pressure on Keighley’s defence which resulted in Bobby Darbyshire kicking for touch to clear the pressure. Keighley were relieved to finish the half only one score down.

‘Dales positional abilities and forward thinking gave rise to a well worked try taking 5 passes across the back line with 2 men over as Keighley’s forwards were once more sucked into the defensive void allowing east passage into the left corner to open up a 2 try gap.

Keighley continued to battle and there were glimpses when they attacked with Aaron Wilson and Tom Richardson ever eager for clean ball on the wings that a score would come but ‘Dale battened down the hatches and snuffed out Keighley’s advancing backs with apparent ease, catching Keighley on the back foot once more with a kick over the top for the winger to run onto to score ‘Dales 3rd try.

Wharfedale 21 Keighley 0 – Full Time
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Old Rishworthians v Keighley

Re-group and come out fighting!

The few games between these 2 clubs had become ever more competitive over the seasons and this was to be no exception.

Keighley had the upper hand and were continually first to the ball with Halliday, Zac Scott and Keir Welch all showing their best form again. Freddie Seavers was starting to read the game better at scrum half and he made several slick passes across the back line which enabled Keighley to build patiently.

Old Rish’s defence were up to the task and resolute tackling from their forwards kept Keighley at bay until early in the second half when back to basics simple rugby paid dividends at last. Seavers quick hands from a scrum on the 22 passed to Curr who missed out Halliday with a booming pass to Field who outstripped the Old Rish defence to touch down in the right corner. Curr duly converted to add the 2 points.

Old Rishworthians 0 Keighley 7 – Full Time
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Old Brodleians v Keighley

Decisions & Indecision!

Buoyed by a deserved win in the previous game, Keighley went into the game against Old Brods in confident mood. However, despite indifferent performances in their previous games Old Brods turned the tables and were soon ahead after a mix up in front of the Keighley line when indecision struck and tackles weren’t attempted allowing the Old Brods centre to score unchallenged.

Keighley attacked in waves but their forwards couldn’t break down the Old Brods defence and despite changes in their formation to help break the deadlock with Alex Feather wide on the left and Aaron Wilson showing his tacking prowess at full back, it seemed that only time would tell until Keighley scored to even up the tie.

Time however was not on their side and they finished behind, making the result of their last game against Huddersfield YMCA all the more important.

Old Brodleians 7 Keighley 0 – Full Time
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Huddersfield YMCA v Keighley

Make or Break!

Much the fresher team, having had a 30 minute break, YMCA peppered the Keighley defensive line from the off and it appeared that Keighley had a mountain to climb to get the required 2 unanswered tries that could secure 2nd place in the Festival.

The early break came when Hobson-Sheriff and McArthur pressed forward in a maul, then freeing Rodbourne to exhibit his power running straight into the combat zone and over in the centre to score. Curr again converting.

Keighley laid siege to the YMCA try line but despite having several “tries” overruled, couldn’t add to their score leaving the Rose Cottagers down, but not yet out, despite the win.

Huddersfield YMCA 0 – Keighley 7

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Then into the lap of the gods….with a 2-try winning margin victory in their last game, Old Brodleians could snatch 2nd place from Keighley to qualify for the Yorkshire Cup proper. As it happened, a very game YMCA side took the upper hand and outplayed Old Brods, only to be pared back in the final minute to draw the game 7 points each.

Keighley finish 2nd behind an extremely capable Wharfedale Squad.

TABLE Played Points Tries For Tries Against
Wharfedale 5 15 20 0
Keighley 5 9 4 4
Old Rishworthians 5 9 4 6
Old Brodleians 5 7 4 5
Huddersfield YMCA 5 2 2 8
Bradford and Bingley Bees 5 1 2 13

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Keighley Trophy Winners

Backs – James Field.

Forwards – Jack McHugh.

Parents Player – Tom Richardson.

Not our best Festival by any means. Despite a brisk start against Bees, our forwards failed to dominate today and this provided our backs with little opportunity to build game-winning performances. However despite the loss against Old Brodleians, we showed some steel against YMCA in our final game, knowing that a win was the only option and could quite easily have had 4 or 5 tries. YMCA fought valiantly but didn’t threaten on the attack; resilient defence was their main weapon. On balance we’re pleased with the final result but not necessarily the overall Squad performance today. Much to continue to work on in training now.
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GMF – 04/11/12

Match details

Match date

Sun 04 Nov 2012

Kickoff

10:00

Team overview