KEIGHLEY PUSH Y1 LEAGUE LEADERS YORK BUT FAILED TO SECURE A WIN

Keighley 21 York 34
Keighley pushed league leaders York to their limits. The visitors started at a hundred miles an hour hoping that a high tempo game would disrupt the home side. However, the Keighley defence led by centres Horsfall and Ebbrell held firm. Defence was quickly turned into attack, a dropped ball in midfield was quickly shipped to Rob Baldwin who chose the direct route through a number of players, Sam Booker continued the move before neatly flicking a pass to seventeen year old debutant wing forward Tom Wilson who scored, Alex Brown converted. A little later good ball from the forwards gave outside half Alex Brown the chance to create some space which allowed winger Joe Copperwaite to carve his way through the mid field to sprint unopposed to the line, once again Alex Brown converted. York were forced to tighten their game and made more use of their solid forwards, especially speedy number eight Shane Goulding. Power play through the middle and a series of rucks near the Keighley line gave scrum half Toby Atkin the chance to dive through a gap to score, full back Jon Dawes added the extras. York pressuring Keighley were awarded a number of penalties. Instead of kicking they chose to scrummage in order to use their forwards to full advantage. An excellent spell of good possession and a subtle change of direction in attack caught Keighley unawares and a well taken try in the corner for wing forward Lewis Hannibal, kicker Dawes added the difficult conversion.

At the start of the second half York were determined to put Keighley to the sword, returning to their high tempo game they used the big men to drive up field, causing the defence to narrow and a run in for winger Rob Hodges, converted by Dawes. The pressure continued, as did the excellent defence that thwarted a number of promising attacks. In the end the defence was adjudged to be offside and a penalty from Dawes. Keighley showing a great deal of dogged character refused to give in, with second row Inman and the whole back row gaining the hard yards they forced their way to the York line, a series of penalties ensued, which Keighley chose to tap and go. The direct approach worked when Dan Snowden was driven over in the corner, Alex Brown added the difficult conversion. York determined to close the game pressured again gaining another penalty for sure footed Dawes. A little later they moved the ball wide giving substitute player Gareth Singleton the space to round the defence to score in the corner, Dawes who had an immaculate game with the boot finished the scoring with the conversion. Not to be outdone and in search of a losing bonus point Keighley controlled the last period of the game and were camped in opposition territory, unfortunately try line fever led to some sloppy handling and the failure to convert good play into points.