Keighley 24 Pontefract 7

Keighley 24 Pontefract 7

Keighley started really well with an early penalty for outside half Alex Brown. Pontefract responded with a series of swift attacks through their backs. With the visitor’s full back joining the line at every opportunity the home defence was at full stretch but managed to contain the initial pressure. Unfortunately for Keighley any positive play broke down through poor basic skills and random aimless kicking which more often than not found the Pontefract full back, who mounted yet another attack in the wide open spaces. Eventually Keighley succumbed to the pressure giving centre Craig Fawcett an easy run in through a stretched defence to score under the posts, outside half Glen Boyd kicked the conversion. From that point onwards Keighley were totally dominated, the Pontefract forwards although pressured by the Keighley eight managed to provide good ball which gave their three quarters the opportunity to launch waves of slick attacks at the worried Keighley defence. Although they conceded territory and were still too prone to kicking possession away they somehow manage to hang on until the half time whistle.

The second half was a totally different story; Keighley wisely changed their game plan, deciding to hold on to possession and challenge through the more direct route, using their fit strong forwards, with player coach Hamish Pratt and Captain Will Armitage leading the way. Starved of possession and put under pressure Pontefract looked a different team, forced to slow down the ball at the contact area they coughed up a series of penalties, two of which Alex Brown converted. With their noses in front Keighley turned the screw trapping the visitors in their twenty two for extended periods of time. The continual pressure was rewarded when big centre Ben Blackwell broke away down the right, pulling in defenders he slipped the ball to prop Craig Spencer, who took the ball forward, after selling an outrageous dummy he scored, converted by Brown. A few minutes later Keighley scrum half Lucas Uren with a good forward platform had the time and space to cleverly change the point of attack causing Pontefract to hastily shuffle their defensive line up which Keighley exploited to the full. Centre Adam Horsfall with the forwards in close support drove to the line, but was stripped of the ball by a defender; however, he managed to charge down the clearing kick to score in the corner. Although Pontefract were always going to be dangerous with ball in hand they were starved of possession and kept pinned deep in their half forcing them to attack from deep or kick, either way Keighley in top gear retained possession. The game was finished off when powerful No8 Hamish Pratt capped a fine individual performance with a try wide out.

By Sam Griffin