KEIGHLEY CRUSH YARNBURY TO SET UP HOME SEMI-FINAL v BRADFORD & BINGLEY.

Yarnbury 0, Keighley 68

Bill Marshall, Telegraph & Argus wrote:
ALTHOUGH it was 0-0 after 18 minutes, Keighley then ran in ten tries with a display of power and no little skill to defeat an understrength Yarnbury in their Yorkshire Shield quarter-final at Brownberrie Lane.

It now sets up an intriguing last-four tie a week tomorrow, when Yorkshire Division Two runners-up Keighley host Yorkshire Division One champions and derby rivals Bradford & Bingley.

"We're not even thinking about that match yet," laughed Keighley's director of rugby Russell Gibson. "We're having our awards night on Saturday."

There was no hint of what was to come in the opening quarter on a sunny night in Horsforth, with both sides' endeavour not being matched by their skill.

Inventiveness by Keighley centre Ben Blackwell almost came off in the tenth minute as he chased his own delicate chip ahead.

The most cohesive move of the match so far, involving prop Craig Spencer, scrum half Lucas Uren and No 8 Josh Hannah, then came close to breaking the deadlock seven minutes later for the visitors.

Yarnbury's dam was now beginning to creak – and it broke in the 19th minute when they were surprised by Keighley not going for a catch and drive from a line-out after they won a penalty.

With the home side rather flat-footed, blind-side flanker Shaun Minikin forced his way over for fly half Alex Brown to convert.

An exquisite long pass by Blackwell that brought gasps from the sidelines put right winger Jack Atkinson in for a try in the 26th minute. Hannah then took a good diagonal line four minutes later to get Keighley's third, Blackwell converting superbly from the touchline.

Trailing 19-0 at half-time, Yarnbury needed the first score of the second half – yet not only didn't they get it but it became a procession towards their line as Keighley bagged seven tries.

Replacement Leigh Sugden, Hannah (2), who thus completed his hat-trick, left winger Luke Carter, replacement Allan Ebbrell and centre Adam Horsfall got the touchdowns, with the impressive Blackwell converting all seven. The referee blew up three minutes early to spare Yarnbury further punishment.

Gibson said: "It was a great performance and the lads have really worked hard for each other. We had to work hard initially to break them down but we cashed in when they started to tire."

Yarnbury will be facing Keighley twice in league action next season and the home side's head coach Bob Hood said: "We have had a season of transition, so we were quite happy to stay in Yorkshire One.

"We were missing six players in this match, fielded six 18 to 19-year-olds and we have just come back from a three-day tour to Edinburgh. But we have bedded in seven or eight second-teamers into the first team this season and when they all play together, we look all right."