Keighley 27 - Skipton 21

Keighley dominated the early exchanges; quick ball from their lively forwards gave the centre partnership of McGee and McDowell the opportunity to pressure the Skipton defence. Strong running and slick passing allowed Danny McGee a run into the corner. The pressure continued, powerful Leigh Sugden made inroads into the defence whenever he got the ball. Eventually, he managed to drive over the line only to be penalised for a knock on.

Although Skipton were gaining plenty of line out possession from their big second row Wilshire they were unable to break the excellent Keighley defence. With good possession from the forwards and the long passing ability of scrum half Scott Dyson Keighley’s outside half Alex Brown took play down the left hand side of the field, drawing a defender he gave an inch perfect pass to Sam Walker who crossed in the corner, unfortunately after scoring Walker was forced to leave the field with a strained hamstring.

A little later influential centre Clem McDowell joined him with a knee injury. Skipton, having absorbed an awful lot of early pressure took advantage of Keighley’s enforced changes attacking at every opportunity. Their enterprise was rewarded when powerful number eight Murray broke free and charged into the Keighley twenty two metre area, he found John Richards in support, who crossed for a well worked try, converted by A. Naylor.

Keighley were stung into action, they chose to keep the ball closer to the forwards which gave the Sugden brothers Leigh and Olly the chance to drive the play down the middle, well supported by the rest of the pack. The tactic worked, with the defence busy coping with the forward pressure some clever play from Danny McGee and full back Richard Wilkinson gave new boy Lucas Uren a run down the wing, drawing the final two defenders he cleverly slipped the ball inside to replacement centre Liam McGee who scored.

Not to be outdone Skipton responded with some excellent back play, full back Nicholson broke the defence and gave a try scoring pass to busy outside half Naylor, he converted his try with ease. Keighley realising that Skipton were gaining in confidence doubled their efforts, a superb break by Scott Dyson caused havoc in the Skipton defence and led to an easy try for Leigh Sugden, converted by Brown.

A little later some clever interpassing between forwards Sugden, PuIlen and Inman gave Scott Dyson the score his play richly deserved. Probably one of the weaknesses in the Keighley team is the inability to close a game down, with a lead of thirteen points they were still intent on forcing the game, as a result a speculative pass in the Skipton twenty two gave full back Nicholson the opportunity to intercept and race the length of the field to score, converted by Naylor. Keighley managed to hold their nerve for the final five minutes until the final whistle and a deserved victory.

Next Saturday the season really starts with a league game at newly promoted Knottingley.