North Ribblesdale 23 - Keighley 20

Whilst the Rose Cottagers are undefeated at home in the league they have lost 7 out of 10 away games this season.

The visitors could, in several respects, count themselves as unlucky. They outscored the opposition by 3 tries to 2 and injuries to full back Rob Wilkinson(standing in for the late withdrawal of Danny McGee)and the impressive centre Adam Horsefall, severely disrupted their back division for much of the game. In addition their inclination for self-destruction allowed the spirited home side to garner 17 points whilst Keighley players languished in the sin bin. To play a quarter of a tight contest whilst numerically disadvantaged is to court disaster.

The fact that the result was in the balance up to the final whistle owed much to a fine hat trick of tries by young Keighley scrum half Lucas Uren. His flair and awareness are becoming an important part of the side's armoury. Unfortunately a collective lack of discipline and the inability of Keighley's pack to subdue the lively home forwards meant that they were never able comfortably to sit on their lead.

In a bright start Keighley held an early advantage, and after 10 minutes play a strong run by wingman Michael Phillips and good support work by the forwards, allowed Uren to dummy over for his first try.

With Keighley a man down after the first sin bin offence Ribblesdale struck back, stand off Will Davidson landing the resulting penalty goal.
Kiwi centre Dan Watson then followed up a kick to the line, with Davidson converting, after a cruel bounce deceived the Keighley defenders.

Skipper Leigh Sugden and flanker Scott Dyson combined to bring Keighley back into the game and before half time they re-took the lead following good work by forwards Ollie Sugden and Chraig Spencer, who created the opening for Uren to dart over from 20 metres for a well taken try converted by Alex Brown.

They began the second half as they finished the first, Uren squeezing over for his third try after a dominant Keighley scrum 5 metres out.

With Keighley again reduced to 14 men, Ribblesdale pressed home their advantage when second row man Tom Clay was bundled over from close range, Davidson's conversion tying the scores.

Brown's penalty goal restored Keighley's lead, but the home side, urged on by a vocal and enthusiastic crowd, sensed victory. Two penalty goals by Davidson edged them ahead as the game entered into injury time.

Keighley spurned two chances to draw the game, opting to go for a winning try, but magnificent defence held up several drives for the line.Their final efforts lacked sufficient variety to force the score allowing Ribblesdale to hang on for victory.