KEIGHLEY GAIN RECORD 18th CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE WIN ST RIPON

Ripon 8 Keighley 51

Keighley maintained the pressure on Yorkshire 2 leaders West Leeds by recoding their 18th consecutive league victory - a record beating the 17 wins in 2002-03 season, which was again in Yorkshire 2. Now only 5 points behind the leaders and one game in hand they have every chance of leading the table but with 3 away games to come, it will be a difficult task.

Ripon started well forcing Keighley into conceding an early penalty that outside half Tim Jobling converted. After that Keighley raised the tempo of the game, committing themselves to open play based on a solid performance from their forwards. The tactic worked, a series of slick attacks gave wing forward Tom Lowther a run into the corner. Continued pressure from the Keighley pack and hard running from their two big centres forced Ripon into off side positions and a string of penalties, Alex Brown managed to land two of them. At the stroke of half time an attack out of defence featuring centre Ben Blackwell and number eight Hamish Pratt allowed Keighley’s centre Adam Horsfall the chance to break through the last defender to score wide out.

In the second half Keighley with a thirteen point cushion forced the pace from the off. Gaining good field position they gained a five metre scrum, a quick pass to centre Horsfall on the burst, and his second try. Alex Brown added the difficult conversion. The Keighley pack all of which are able to carry and maintain possession began to dominate the exchanges, keeping Ripon pinned in their own half. The forward pressure ensured that the opposition back row was fully engaged which gave play maker outside half Alex Brown the space and opportunity to unleash his two centres who were always able to make good ground. Camped in Ripon territory prop Olly Sugden broke through a number of would be defenders before slipping the ball to his brother second row Leigh Sugden, who scored under the posts, converted by Brown. With a large unassailable lead Keighley were confident enough to take risks and throw the ball about, off loading at every opportunity. Full back Rob Wilkinson was a constant threat when he joined the back line, the Ripon defence were unable to cope, a thrust through the middle from Blackwell pulled in defenders giving Wilkinson the chance to touch down in the corner. Brown on fine form with the boot added the wide angled conversion. Winger Alan Ebbrell, finished Keighley’s scoring with two well taken tries after good approach work by Wilkinson, Brown once again landed the two difficult conversions. Ripon, although out gunned for the majority of the game gave all they had into a final phase of play. Their efforts were deservedly rewarded when an attack through both forwards and backs gave lively winger Ben Buckley a well taken tryin the corner.