KEIGHLEY DEFY WINTRY CONDITIONS TO SECURE 15TH WIN

LEODIENSIANS 3 - KEIGHLEY 31

In extremely testing conditions Keighley failed to find their feet in the first half. Facing a strong wind and driving snow they were forced to concede territory and possession for long periods to a spirited home side.

Any footholds they were able to establish in the Leos’ half foundered in the face of a determined defence whilst a combination of the slippery conditions and cold hands led inevitably to spilled passes and wasted chances.

A powerful run by centre Ben Blackwell eventually took play close to the Leos’ line, where a dropped pass denied Keighley a score. Too often, however, Keighley were penalised at the breakdown, allowing Leos’ to clear the ball deep into the Keighley half and leading to stand off Ed Farmer landing a penalty goal to give his side the lead after 20 minutes play.

Stalwart efforts by forwards Dave Barden and Jake Sandring kept the home side in the game, in spite of the increasing influence of the Keighley pack. A determined rolling maul was halted at the Leos’ line but the visitors were not to be denied. A rare penalty award was quickly taken and scrum half Oliver Mitchell squeezed through a gap to give Keighley the lead on the stroke of half time.

The Utley men soon took advantage of the worsening conditions in the second half and from a well executed 5 metre line out Leigh Sugden’s charge to the line was unstoppable.

Soon afterwards centre Adam Horsfall crossed after a determined 20 metre run, Alex Brown’s conversion giving Keighley a lead which looked likely to be unassailable as the home forwards began to tire.

Prop Sam Booker was a regular threat as Keighley sought a fourth try which would gain them an important bonus point. In spite of the conditions they put together some skilful and enterprising passages of play and were rewarded when wingman Jack Atkinson finished off some good work by the backs to touch down with Brown again converting.

Sound work at the coal face by Keighley’s front row of Booker, Will Armitage and Craig Spencer by this time had put the pack well in control of affairs, shunting the home forwards back at scrums and looking secure at the line outs.

Inevitably constant pressure set up a final score for replacement scrum half Lucas Uren, who deceived the defence to cross close to the posts allowing Brown a simple conversion.

The victory stretches the winning run to 15 matches, the side being undefeated since the first league game of the season on September 5th. They will be hoping to continue the successful run in a re-arranged home game on Saturday against Halifax rivals Old Rishworthians ( K.O. 2.15 pm)