Hullensians v Keighley RUFC
6th September 2025
Match report by Tony Burns

Keighley travelled to Springhead Lane for their first game of the new season, and their first game under the guidance of new coach Ben Sowrey.
In a scrappy game dominated by strong defence, Keighley played the 2nd half against 14 men but could not turn the advantage into what could, and maybe should have been a winning start to their Yorkshire Counties 1 campaign.
The first 10 minutes were played predominantly in Keighley territory although Hullensians never looked likely to breech a committed and well marshalled Keighley defense. Keighley’s back row of Parkinson, Whyte and Kemp worked tirelessly to keep their hosts at bay, however, on 11 minutes, scrappy ball and indecision at the back of the breakdown seemed to confuse the visitors defence and Hulls no 9 found the space to dart through to score from 20 metres, the conversion being missed.
Keighley now started to play with more belief and began to gain territory. Strong carries by Yaxley, Whyte, Keighley and Horsfall drove the ball deep into Hulls 22 but again defence came out on top. Keighley missed a penalty from the 22metre line to the right of the posts on 16 minutes, but further pressure kept play in Hull territory.
From 20 minutes the game started to become somewhat bad tempered leading to the referee speaking to both captains to calm their teams down. However, within a minute Hulls no 6 and Keighley 2nd Row Eddie Keighley both saw yellow after what seemed a minor altercation following a dangerous tackle on Keighley’s Parkinson. From the resulting penalty fly half Meegan’s successful kick brought the score back to 5-3.
The game remained scrappy with few opportunities and little flowing rugby. On 37 minutes Adam Kemp harshly received a yellow cars for an attempted charge down which saw the Hull 10 collapse theatrically after minor contact. Within a minute though, the numbers were balanced as a Hull player was red carded for dangerous play at the breakdown. The first half ended with Hullensians leading 5 – 3.
The second half started with Keighley dominating territory and possession, but despite this and a man advantage, Hull kept them at bay despite being pinned in their own 22 meter zone a number of times. Hull finally gained ground and moved into the visitors half. From a lineout on Keighley’s 10 metre line Hull fed the ball to their right where a powerful forward drive followed by some excellent interplay between their backs gave them an unconverted try to right field.
Keighley finally started to play the flowing rugby we have come to expect of them, and an outstanding move started by Ebbrell then saw Minikin and Horsfall drive through the Hull defense before spreading the ball right to Yaxley. He was tackled as he tried to step inside the final defender but quick ball from scrum half Nathan Pickles took play back into centre field where a series of powerful forward drives from Booker, Minikin and Keighley finally saw Pickles release debutant 2nd row Adam Jackson who powered through to score from 5 metres.
From the restart Keighley were soon back in Hull territory and a superb rolling maul took the ball deep into the hosts 22 where they were penalized, Meegan scoring the penalty to put Keighley 13 10 ahead.
With Keighley in the ascendency and with a man advantage, everything pointed to a Keighley win, however a determined Hull team and two key decisions that went against Keighley turned the game in the hosts favor.
Keighley knocked on from the restart, but a clear knock on at the base of the scrum was missed by the referee as was the pickup from an offside position from Hulls blindside flanker. Hull moved the ball to centre field before recycling to the left where Hull scored in the corner, the conversion again being missed.
From the restart a huge kick to the left corner by the Hull full back gave them an attacking lineout on 5 metres which they collected and drove over to give them a 22 – 13 lead with 10 minute remaining.
Once again the visitors were on top but the loss of a 5 metre line out and a turnover on the 22 saw them pushed back by Hull. Keighley finally established a strong attacking position close to the Hull line, and what appeared a fine try was incredibly chalked off by the referee for crossing, a decision that seemed to surprise every player, coach and supporter at the game.
In the final play of the game, excellent interplay between Keighley’s forwards saw Sam Booker and replacement 2nd row Luke Carter take play deep into Hull territory, but again the final ball went astray and Hull cleared to touch to end the game.
Sometimes things simply don’t work out, and Saturday was such a day for Keighley. However they will travel with confidence to Yarnbury next week for what will be another tough game.