HEATH 12 – KEIGHLEY 13

Keighley had to dig deeply into their reserves of courage and resolve to hold off a determined second half assault from the home forwards whose superior height and weight was almost decisive in a close contest.

The visitors were relatively untroubled in the early exchanges, two penalty goals by Alex Brown giving them a 6 point lead. They were, however, guilty of conceding too many penalties themselves and the powerful boot of centre Ezra Hinchliffe soon restored parity.

The introduction of replacement Lucas Uren added a vital spark to Keighley’s game. With his first touch he darted through the defence establishing a ruck 5 metres from the line and was then on hand to snap up the ball to score. Brown converted brilliantly from the touchline to set up a lead of 13 points to 6.

The loss of second row man Smith Brown with a shoulder injury was a blow to Keighley, restricting their line out options as the Heath forwards became increasingly influential. The visitors were forced into conceding more penalties and Hinchliffe soon narrowed the lead with his third successful kick at goal.

Again Keighley responded well and on the stroke of half time prop Joe Kaye was unlucky to be denied a try when he burrowed over from close range only for referee Gavin Pender to rule that the ball was not grounded.

The second half was largely a battle of attrition as Keighley struggled to contain the dominant Heath pack and Hinchliffe added another penalty goal to reduce the lead to a single point.

With Keighley’s potential match winning backs living on scraps of possession there was little open rugby on show. Fortunately the limited threat of the home backs was easily contained by Keighley’s midfield defence of Brown, Adam Horsfall and Ben Blackwell, with only Australian import Jordan Bradbrook looking threatening on occasions at full back.

A penalty goal miss by Brown on 65 minutes could easily have proved costly as Heath then launched a series of assaults on the Keighley line. A try looked almost inevitable but the visitor’s forwards tenacity held sway, as the home pack several times lost direction and control with the line in sight.

A last second drop goal attempt sailed wide of the posts and Keighley achieved the victory they just about deserved. No praise can be too high for the defensive efforts of the Keighley pack in which Uren, Leigh Sugden and Josh Hannah were particularly outstanding.

The win hoists the Utley men into 3rd place in the league with several sides breathing down their necks, including Saturday’s visitors Scarborough ( k.o. 2.15 p.m.)