Moortown 13 Keighley 14

Moortown 13 Keighley 14

A mediocre game of rugby, littered with an inordinate number of penalties. The result could have gone either way. In many respects the tactics of the game were set early on. Moortown with the bigger pack of forwards were intent on kicking long for field position then using the forwards to batter their way towards the line. Keighley on the other hand wanted to move the ball through the backs, however the possession they got was often slow due to the commitment of both sets of forwards to the contact area. The end result was a turgid state of affairs. The first score was a penalty for the home team, kicked by outside half Mark Shires. A little later outside half Alex Brown capitalised on a period of Keighley pressure to gain the lead with two well struck penalties. Moortown responded, using a midfield penalty they gained good field position. A take and drive at a line out on the Keighley five metre line forced the defence to stem the forward pressure which gave scrum half Jack Lewis the space to attack the blind side, a short pass to big winger Bob Taylor and a try in the corner.

The second half was equally uninspiring; Keighley regained the lead with a penalty from Alex Brown. After an extended period of midfield impasse, where neither team were able to break down the opposition, Keighley managed to gain a line out after yet another penalty. A strong drive after gaining possession gave new boy Callum Craig a touch down in the corner. The final minutes were probably the most exciting of the game. Moortown gained a series of penalties in the corner of the field, opting for scrums they went for the push over. Although the Keighley scrum held firm the pressure told and full back Matt Halkier crossed in the corner. Unfortunately for Moortown, Mark Shires sent the conversion wide of the posts.

This Saturday, Keighley 1st XV and the Academy team are at home, the firsts play Leodensian, the Academy, Skipton 2nds. The second team are away to Leodensian 2nd XV.