Roses clash at the Cottage.

Keighley hosted Blackburn in this U14’s rose’s encounter under blue
sky’s at Rose Cottage. The game being the first between the 2 clubs for
a long time arranged by ex Keighley player Brian Farrington who coaches
the Lancastrians. The home side going into the game on the back of 3
wins on the bounce and picking from a squad of 18.The opening exchanges
were played out in midfield as both sets of forwards sized each other
up but it was the visitors who on 14 mins scored a converted try 0-7.

A half way line scrum saw Keighley win ball against the head,the ball
spun out left to centre Jamie Reynard to touch down in the corner Nick
Holroyd missed the conversion 5-7.The well drilled visitors had the
better of the next phases and pressured the line. Keighley had numerous
attempts to clear the ball but failed to do so and Gareth Johnson
crossed for his second converted try 5-14, half time. The blues
started the second period having territorial advantage and scored
another converted try after 2 mins this time by Dan Basquil 5-21.
Keighley tried hard to contain Blackburn and more than matched them up
front but Basquil struck again as the red rose lads stretched the lead
to 5-26.The reds of Keighley then had their best spell of the game
driving down the popular side they were held up over the line, from the
resulting 5 yard scrum Ryan Baines pounced on a loose ball to dive over
the line for a deserved try 10-26.With 7 mins remaining Blackburn
completed the scoring as fly half Johnson completed his hatrick .The
final minutes were played out without further score to give Mr
Farrington and his lads a 31-10 victory to take back over the border.