Ripon 5 Keighley 36

An impressive start to the season for Keighley, with a resounding first round Yorkshire Shield victory. The first half was very much an early season game, plenty of endeavour let down by poor handling skills. As the half progressed Keighley began to take control up front which allowed their backs to test out the opposition. A quickly taken tap penalty by inspirational player coach Hamish Pratt caught the Ripon defence off guard and a try wide out for outside half Alex Brown. A little later a powerful surge in midfield by centre Ben Blackwell was carried on at pace by Josh Hannah, and neatly finished off by Alex Brown, Scrum half Olly Mitchell added the conversion.

The second half saw a different Keighley, with plenty of possession from a solid scrum and lineout they were able to pressure Ripon into mistakes. Olly Mitchell turned the pressure into points with a well struck penalty. With their forwards now in control and the back row of Minikin, Lowther and Pratt imposing themselves at the breakdown Ripon were finding the going difficult. Excellent ball retention from Keighley forced Ripon to defend close to the contact area which gave Alex Brown the time and space to score his third try, Olly Mitchell adding the extras. Although Ripon had their moments they were more often than not forced to operate behind the gain line and under serious pressure from the big Keighley centres Blackwell and Horsfall. A mistake in midfield allowed Keighley’s second row Josh Hannah to intercept and a fifty metre run in under the posts, converted by Mitchell. Keighley finished their scoring with a typical forwards try for number eight Hamish Pratt, who touched down after a strong lineout drive; Olly Mitchell landed the difficult conversion. As the game neared a close Ripon forced themselves back into the game, on two occasions they came very near to scoring, however Keighley’s last line of defence full back Liam Everett managed to thwart their efforts. Ripon maintained the pressure and a spell of crisp handling was finished off in the corner by winger Ben Buckley.