Keighley 37 Knottingley 0

The game started briskly with both teams testing each other out. Eventually, a trademark bulldozing run by centre Marco Ferrazzano forced the Knottingley defence inland which gave outside half Alex Brown the chance to slip through and deliver a try scoring pass to Scott Dyson, Brown added the conversion. From that point onwards Knottingley dominated possession and territory.

Although they pressured the Keighley line for a full twenty minutes with their number eight Craig Field in outstanding form, they were unable to break a resolute defence. Weathering the storm the Keighley forwards superbly led by their back row drove play up field, earning a penalty for Alex Brown, a few minutes later a scrum infringement gave Brown a further three points. Once again Knottingley dominated possession. However, Lucas Uren Keighley’s livewire scrum half managed to pinch a loose ball and set back row men Sugden, Lowther and Dyson on their way, some sleight of hand from Dyson found full back Danny McGee in support and a try in the corner, which Brown converted.

At the start of the second half Keighley’s Scott Dyson chased the kick off, caught the ball and drove play into the Knottingley twenty two metre area, some excellent rucking provided quick ball and a chance for Ferrazzano to attack the defence, although he was stopped a metre from the line, quick thinking Lucas Uren saw a gap behind the ruck, and dived over the Knottingley forwards to score.

Although Knottingley rallied, they were unable to support the numerous surging runs from their stand out forward Craig Field. Once again the Keighley defence stood firm and some excellent attacking play from their centre Danny Price gave hooker Will Armitage a score in the corner.

At this stage of the game although Knottingley were winning their share of the ball they were unable to make headway and made a number of handling errors. Once such error gave Scott Dyson the chance to break down the wing, the move was carried on by winger Danny Lester who cut inland giving wing forward Josh Hannah a run in under the posts for his debut try.

Although Keighley were down to fourteen men for the last eight minutes of the game due to a yellow card, they held on for a much deserved victory.