New year derby is hailed a success

Bradford & Bingley 29, Keighley 10

The afternoon's festive clash between Bradford and Bingley and Keighley was hailed as a success by both sides and is set to continue next Christmas at Rose Cottage.

A season’s-best crowd of some 300 watched the contest at Wagon Lane and both clubs, as well as the fans, got something out of it.

Keighley’s head coach Graeme Sheffield said: “We got exactly what we wanted out of the match.

“The referee (Graeme Hall) controlled the game well and we defended well, although they probably had about 55 per cent of the possession.

“We were lacking Dave Lister, which affected our setpiece, but we did well there too, and the match will stand us in good stead for when the league season resumes next Saturday.”

Keighley, who are two divisions below the Bees, were also missing full back or centre Danny McGee and hooker or flanker Nathan Thornton but were rewarded for a hard-working display with a last-minute try from scrum half Adam Balderstone. Fly half Alex Brown converted that to add to his earlier penalty, and he also hit the crossbar with an even longer-range effort when the hosts were leading 5-0.

Keighley winger Lucas Uren took a blow to the head but should be okay for the Yorkshire Division One match at home to Heath. More worrying at this stage was the quad injury suffered by former Bees centre Marco Ferrazano.

Bradford & Bingley’s director of rugby Martin Whitcombe, who was instrumental in reviving the derby fixture, also got plenty out of the game.

He said: “We gave debuts to five players – Grant Litt, James Brown, James Bair-stow, Stuart Brewer and Aiden Scully.

“All of them did well and that makes selection for Saturday’s National League Three North game against Middlesbrough more interesting. It’s just a pity that James Bairstow, who is originally from Harden, does not live locally.

“He is a farmer in the Midlands. Stuart was playing his first game for over a year after a serious opearation, and Grant is a New Zealander who has married a Keighley lass and they have moved back here to make their lives.

“James Brown did well and just needs more experience, while Aiden, who is from a rugby league background, has already played for Yorkshire Under-20s.

“We haven’t had a game since December 11 and needed the workout. We wanted to win but the performance was more important.”

Bradford & Bingley should have taken the lead in the tenth minute but impressive winger James Morton knocked on Scully’s kick under pressure.

However, skipper Ryan Wederall did cross three minutes later, crashing over from short range after Tom Cokell had been denied.

Keighley, for whom Balderstone was harrying effectively round the base of the scrum, made it 5-3 via a Brown penalty but they turned round 10-3 down after winger Adam Wellington scored following a slick move involving Morton and Scully.

Second-half tries followed for Wederall, Morton and Litt, Gavin Stead and Litt each adding a conversion.