1st XV POWER TO GREAT VICTORY AT HOME V RIPON

Keighley 53 Ripon 0

A resounding performance from a spirited Keighley team that resulted in nine tries. The home team were quick out of the blocks playing a high tempo game they crossed the line twice within the first ten minutes. Liam Everett finished off some great handling in the backs to score in the corner; Alex Brown added the difficult conversion. The second came from second row Josh Hannah who capitalised on some fine handling from prop Craig Spencer to sprint forty yards to score in the corner. With a Ripon player in the sin bin, Keighley took advantage of the extra space with a second try for winger Everett. Outside half Alex Brown added the fourth try when he finished off a strong break by wing forward Shaun Minikin, he also landed the conversion. Having gained a four try bonus point Keighley relaxed and allowed Ripon back into the game, some excellent play from full back Duffield and winger May put the Keighley defence under pressure but the Ripon forwards were unable to add continuity to some good counter attacks.

The second half saw a slow start, both teams being bogged down in a midfield battle. Eventually full back Alan Ebbrell drew defenders to release centre Ben Blackwell who scored under the posts, converted by Brown. A dominant Keighley scrum in the Ripon twenty two gave scrum half Olly Mitchell the chance of a half break and a pass to centre Blackwell on the charge, breaking through the defence he scored under the posts, Brown once again added the conversion. A few minutes later Keighley’s other powerful centre Adam Horsfall broke through to give Blackwell the opportunity to give the final pass to Josh Hannah who scored wide out. As the game came to a close wing forward Tom Lowther capped a strong performance when he broke through a line out to score. Almost on the stroke of full time with help from prop Craig Spencer he added his second try.