KEIGHLEY 38 - HUDDERSFIELD YMCA 7

Making light of the absence of three influential squad members they got off to a splendid start when 3 minutes into the game a smart break by scrum half & man of the match Lucas Uren was supported by skipper Leigh Sugden who supplied a return pass allowing Uren to touch down under the posts with Alex Brown converting.

With plenty of possession the visitors mounted a series of attacks, but were unable to penetrate a resolute Keighley defence, flanker Scott Dyson setting the example with some fearless tackling.
A superb 60 metre run to the line by wingman Sam Walker and a fine conversion by Brown soon increased the lead, but Keighley were unable to add to this before halftime.

Early in the second half wingman Harry Titley crossed for a try after solid work by the Keighley pack following a great run by Dyson, with Brown adding another conversion from the touchline. Huddersfield struck back when live wire scrum half Simon Wilson took advantage of a rare defensive error to dart over for an excellent individual try converted by standoff James Swift.

Keighley were stung back into action. Neat work and accurate kicking by standoff Rob Wilkinson and centre Danny Price drove play deep into the visitors’ half where pressure forced a penalty award converted by Brown.

Flanker Paul Rossi secured a bonus point for the fourth try when he crossed following a tap penalty on the Huddersfield 22 metre line, with Brown again adding the extra points and the scoring was completed when a neat reverse pass by Price opened up the way for replacement winger Michael Phillips to touch down in style.

Brown’s fifth conversion to add to his penalty goal rounded off an impressive return after a long lay-off through illness, but the foundations for the victory were built on an efficient and often ruthless performance by the team as a whole.