Keighley 13 Heath 0

A welcome return to league action. Luckily for Keighley they had managed a stringent workout against a strong Bradford and Bingley team the previous week. Heath on the other hand had not played for six weeks.

The early stages of the first half was a very tentative affair, a war of attrition between two well matched teams. Classy Heath outside half Giles Hetherington and big centre Martin Moana forced play deep into the Keighley half on numerous occasions. However, every attacking opportunity broke down through lack of precision and a dogged Keighley defence.

Eventually the Keighley forwards supported by straight running centres Marco Ferrezzano and Adam Horsfall forced Heath onto the back foot and a series of penalties, one of which was converted by Alex Brown. A period of very even play followed for the next 25 minutes. Heath tried to get into a rhythm but were unable to utilise good field position because of their inability to compete at the lineout, due to poor throwing and the dominance of Keighley’s Dave Lister and Stuart Inman.

Towards the end of the half Keighley had absorbed all that Heath had to offer, and began a fine series of attacking plays. Winger Jimmy Anson fielded a loose kick and spectacularly jinked his way through the middle only to be tackled just short of the line. A little later a well executed long pass from Alex Brown gave centre Adam Horsfall a long run into the opposition twenty two metre area, once again a scrabbled Heath defence managed to keep Keighley at bay.

Heath began the second half brightly with half-backs Neil Francis and Hetherington looking to inspire, but a mix-up between the Heath centres gave Keighley outside half Alex Brown a chance to race clear. Only a great tackle from full back Matthew Hallett prevented a certain score. Although Heath managed to string a number of attacks together, there was no way around, or through a well organised defence. With the opposition running out of ideas and struggling to gain good possession Keighley turned the screw, the forwards led by Leigh Sugden began to dominate all phases of play, eventually the pressure was turned into points with a further penalty from the reliable Alex Brown.

With ten minutes of the game remaining Heath made wholesale substitution in order to gain parity. It made little difference, the Keighley pack maintained their control, which gave outside half Alex Brown the time and space to exhibit his skills. After a series of fine drives from the forwards deep into the twenty two Brown found Scott Dyson supporting at pace, his well timed pass gave the athletic wing forward the opportunity to drive through the fullback to score near the posts, Brown added the conversion. Although Heath battled away to the final whistle they were easily contained by a well ordered Keighley defence.

This win means that Keighley overtake Heath, are now third in the league. However, there are no easy fixtures in Yorkshire one and Keighley need to be on their mettle for the rest of the season to maintain their league position.

This Saturday they face a difficult task with an away fixture at Dinnington.