KEIGHLEY RISE TO 6TH IN YORKSHIRE 1 DESPITE 15-8 LOSS AT BEVERLEY

BEVERLEY 15 – KEIGHLEY RUFC 8

In an often scrappy, unstructured encounter a lively and youthful Beverley prevailed against a spirited Keighley outfit.For most of the contest there was little to choose between the sides, but Keighley, to a considerable extent, were the authors of their own misfortunes. Too often they lost the ball in contact, uncharacteristically missed tackles and significantly were forced to play a quarter of the match with only 14 men after avoidable sin binnings. Such were the influences which dictated the result in an otherwise evenly fought game.

The visitors were unlucky in many respects. The late withdrawal of key centre Ben Blackwell through illness was compounded by a first half knee injury to influential stand off Alex Brown and the loss of centre Adam Horsfall (ill) and then No. 8 Josh Hannah with a recurrence of an ankle injury, severely hampered their cause.

Keighley notched the first points after only 2 minutes of play when Brown landed a long range penalty following a late tackle. Beverley responded with a sustained and robust attack on the Keighley line which culminated in scrum half Will Harrison squeezing over for a try converted by skipper Phil Duboulay.

Brave defence by full back Alfie Seeley kept Keighley in touch and a quickly taken tapped penalty by Brown brought the best out of a scrambled home defence. Brown’s retirement from the field was, however, a significant blow to the visitors and the lack of a reliable goal kicker proved costly when an easy penalty goal attempt was wide of the target.

Keighley’s pack was contesting well at this stage with Hamish Pratt, Stuart Inman and Matt Hagyard to the fore, but they were suffer more misfortune before the break when Horsfall left the field with a recurrence of illness and wingman Joe Copperwaite received a yellow card.

They survived the 10 minutes numerical disadvantage without conceding further points but lack of possession prevented them from mounting any meaningful attacks

The second yellow card proved costly. Firstly Duboulay increased his side’s lead with a penalty goal and then after a passage of play in which neither side threatened the try line a powerful burst by second rower Jack Houseman paved the way for replacement Steve Wiggill to cross for a try.

Restored to a full complement of players Keighley produced their best passage of play. They won a scrum against the head deep in Beverley's 22m area, which led to Pratt picking up and breaking on the blind side and a pass inside to supporting scrum half Lucas Uren who was tackled virtually on the line but manged a pass to right wingman Joe Sugden to touch down in the corner; too far out for Wilkinson to convert., It was, however, too little too late and Beverley’s all round energy and conviction secured the victory which on balance they deserved but Keighley claimed a losing bonus point which they too deserved.

The Utley men are at home on Saturday to Hullensians when they will be keen to reverse a narrow defeat in Hull back in October.