Depleted Keighley suffer another heavy defeat home to promotion chasing Moortown

Keighley 5 Moortown 53

Keighley with six first team regulars missing mostly through injury were always going to have problems against promotion chasing Moortown, and so it proved in a nine try demolition. A defence splitting break down the middle led to an early try for powerful number eight Muaiava Taulealo. The pain continued with a quick follow up try for winger Ged Innes, converted by centre Shires. A good supply of ball from their big forwards gave Moortown the chance to stretch Keighley out wide; a neat chip kick found number eight Taulealo lurking on the wing and his second try, converted by Shires. Keighley recovered from the shock and the pack began to operate, hard yards were gained by Hannah, Minikin and Armitage. Pressure in their twenty two metre area forced Moortown into conceding a series of cynical penalties. Keighley spurned the opportunity to kick for goal intent on the direct approach. Apart from an opposition player yellow carded for persistent infringement of the laws Keighley had nothing to show for their efforts. Moortown recovered their composure and swept up field and a try for wing forward Muil, Shires added the conversion.

The second half was more of the same; a break from number eight Taulealo and good backing up gave fullback Greenwood the chance to cross wide out. Once again Keighley responded, the back trio of Wilkinson, Donnelly and Gibson found gaps in the defence, eventually winger Josh Slingsby had enough space to go on one of his darting runs which gave the forwards a platform. Good ball retention and hard driving play managed to force Josh Hannah over the line for a well deserved try. Moortown soon regained their dominance, and returned play to the wide open spaces. They finished the game with a hat trick try for Taulealo and three further tries and one conversion. Although the defeat was a hard pill to swallow, Keighley fought hard against a well balanced team used to winning. Improvements in the scrum and lineout and their undoubted character should hopefully lead to success at some stage during the season.