KEIGHLEY MARCH ON TO 7TH CONSECUTIVE WIN WITH 29-0 VICTORY OVER WATH

KEIGHLEY 29 - WATH UPON DEARNE 0

Not for the first time this season Keighley got away to a hesitant start before finding their form in the second half with an impressive display of attacking, free flowing rugby.

The big Wath forwards initially caused problems for the lighter Keighley pack, but such is the spirit and tenacity in the side this season that the home defence never looked in serious trouble with 18 year old prop Nathan Raja making his 1st senior appearance more than holding his own.

The first scoring chance, in fact, fell to the home side when skipper Will Armitage intercepted a stray pass 40 metres out but was hauled down short of the line. Keighley maintained pressure, however, leading to stand off Alex Brown landing a penalty goal after 7 minutes play when the visitors backs strayed offside.

Neat work by Wath Half backs Barrett and Bartlett put Keighley on the retreat, but the threat was short lived with wingman Jake Hill and flanker Tom Lowther prominent with some penetrating running as Keighley finished the first half pressing on the visitor’s line.

The slender lead looked vulnerable as the second half began, but as Wath forwards tired, Keighley’s superior fitness began to tell. Armitage finished off a blindside move with a try in the corner and the Wath backs began to look fragile in the face of some powerful assaults by Keighley centres Ben Blackwell and Adam Horsfall.

A break by full back Allan Ebbrell, well supported by Hill brought a second try for Armitage, a justified reward for his all round industrious performance, with Brown’s fine conversions extending the lead to 15 points.

Wath fought back forcing the best out of a Keighley defence bolstered by the seasonal debut of the war horse Leigh Sugden.The home side was, however, well in control of affairs by this stage. Ebbrell ghosted through once more finding Brown in close support to touch down between the posts before adding the conversion.

A fine take by Blackwell from the restart set up a try for the impressive Hill again converted by Brown as Keighley finished in style with a valuable try scoring bonus point.

For the third time in 7 games they have kept a clean sheet, conceding a mere 32 points during this period and only 51 points during the season so far.
This record has not been bettered by any club in the whole of the Northern leagues and is a great credit not just to the team, but to it’s dedicated coaches.