Keighley 46 Pontefract 29

Early Keighley pressure resulted in a penalty for Alex Brown. Pontefract forced their way back into the game, from a line out near the Keighley line Pontefract took the ball and used their favoured weapon the rolling maul to force veteran number eight Derrick Eves over for a deserved try.

Keighley returned play to Pontefract territory, where quick thinking scrum half Lucas Uren intercepted the service from a Pontefract line out to race unopposed to score under the posts, converted by Brown.

Keighley through forward pressure kept Ponty pinned in their own half. A penalty quickly taken by Danny Price put the defence under pressure, a series of quick rucks and quality possession gave full back Danny McGee an opening and a well taken try wide out, converted by Brown.

At this stage of the game Keighley were moving the ball well, causing problems for the Pontefract defence. At a line out in the opposition twenty two Keighley drove the ball forward and a try for hooker Will Armitage. Pontefract not to be out done responded with a well executed back move which gave extra man winger S. Spears a try in the corner. Alex Brown, in fine kicking form finished the first half scoring with a penalty.

Pontefract started the second half in determined mood, using their big forwards to drive up the middle, Keighley managed to contain the early pressure and eventually returned to the attack. Once again quality possession from the forwards and good hands from the backs pressurised the defence, fearing an attack wide out Pontefract split the defence giving hooker Will Armitage chance to cut through the middle for his second try, converted by Brown.

A few minutes later Keighley’s Marco Ferrazzano finished off some excellent interplay between forwards and backs to score under the posts, Brown added the conversion. With a twenty nine points difference in the score line Keighley were guilty of losing concentration.

Pontefract raised their game and once again through the rolling maul forced number eight Eves over in the corner. Pontefract with a lot of good possession put Keighley under pressure but some sloppy handling gave Keighley winger Sam Walker the ball and a seventy five yard race to score under the posts, converted by Brown. Pontefract to their great credit were determined to chase the game, once again a muscular rolling maul gave number eight Eves his well earned third try, converted by full back S. Johnson.

With time running out and a tired looking Keighley defending for all they were worth Pontefract finished the game off with a try for substitute R. Maw, converted by Johnson and a well deserved four try bonus point.

This Saturday Keighley hope to continue their winning ways at Huddersfield YMCA.