Outstanding display gives Keighley their 4th win of the season

Keighley 27 Dinnington 8

A well earned Keighley victory in atrocious weather conditions. The visitors were quickest out of the blocks with a charge down kick almost leading to a try for scrum half Cory Differ, only last ditch defence saved the day. Although the weather was awful both teams attempted to play good rugby. Keighley intent on moving the ball around away from the oppositions big forwards, and Dinnington relying on their solid pack. After twenty minutes a defensive Dinnington lineout on their five metre line was overthrown straight into the hands of a surprised Sean Minikin who scored with ease. Dinnington worked their way back into the game using the forwards to drive the ball up. The Keighley defence to a man was superb, the mid field was dominated by strong centres Horsfall and Kelly who stifled numerous attacks, and allowed the backrow to scrap for the ball nullifying quick possession. Alex Brown at outside half played the conditions well kicking long to gain territory. From a loose maul and a series of short passes second row Luke Carter drove his way over between the posts, converted by Brown. A little later some excellent handling skills and a dummy runner in midfield narrowed the defence and gave full back Jake Duxbury space and a score wide out. Dinnington were shocked into action and second row Tom Shepard and number eight Mike Leitch led the comeback making inroads into the defence, the only reward for their efforts was a penalty, well struck by Jonny West.

In the second half Dinnington brought on substitute Will Marshall into the pack, his arrival and ability to make the hard yards well supported by his pack forced Keighley into long periods of defence. Forward pressure at scrum and a drive gave Marshall a well deserved try. Although Keighley had the better of the first half Dinnington certainly dominated the second period, their forwards prompted by outside half West gained a plentiful supply of good possession, however the Keighley defensive line speed and first up tackling was outstanding. In an attempt to break up the play Dinnington tried the aerial route only to find that the Keighley back three were sound under the high ball and quite content to run the ball back at them. One such counter attack led to a penalty in a wide position for Alex Brown, given the angle and weather conditions he did well to gain the three points. Dinnington with time running out never gave up. Keighley began to tire and as a result conceded a lot of penalties which gave the opposition good field position, but try as they might the visitors were unable to breach the defence. At the death a penalty in the Dinnington twenty two metre area was quickly taken by scrum half Leon Hobson-Sheriff, a quick few passes and winger Alan Ebbrell was through what was left of the defence to score a bonus point try, converted by Brown. A thoroughly deserved bonus point win for the Keighley players who on the day were quite outstanding.

Dinnington Website Match Report
Dinnington’s 2018 ended in a bit of a disappointment as they lost to Keighley on a windy, cold, windswept day on an artificial pitch. However, two wins out of three in December has put them in a comfortable position going into the New Year.

When the two sides met earlier this season, Dinnington had shut Keighley out but the home side had clearly learned from this as they repeatedly stifled Dinnington’s attacking options and, by fielding a stronger line-up, created more of a threat themselves.

Dinnington made a good start getting close to the home line on their first attack and won a penalty five metres out. They opted for a scrum only to lose possession after working the ball through several phases. These started a period of play in which both teams stole possession to clear dangerous situations. A quarter of an hour into the game, Dinnington lost possession at a line out on their own twenty-two and Keighley crashed over for the opening try. Dinnington dropped the ball on their next possession to give Keighley another attacking option but they knocked on five metres from the line. Relief for Dinnington was short-lived as they lost the ball at the scrum and Keighley scored to go 12-0 up just before the mid-point of the half. Keighley continued to hold the upper hand and, after stealing the ball again, spread it wide to score in the corner and move 17-0 ahead with a quarter of an hour of the half to go. Dinnington went on the attack from the restart but having kicked to the corner from a penalty, conceded a penalty themselves allowing Keighley to clear. The weather started to have more of an influence as both sides saw handling errors come into their play, one ending a promising Keighley attack. Dinnington cleared past half way and then a couple of penalties gave them the chance to take play close to the home line. However, they could not find a way through the home defence and when they won another penalty they opted to take the kick at goal. Jonny West landed the points and Dinnington went into the break trailing 17-3.

Dinnington made the best possible start to the second half as a penalty allowed them to kick to the corner. A catch and drive took them close to the line before they won another penalty. They opted for the scrum, as they had done in the first half, but this time it worked as Will Marshall picked up at the back to go over with less than five minutes of the half played. Dinnington looked to build on this but handling errors allowed Keighley to clear the danger before another penalty moved Dinnington within striking distance again. But, once more an error allowed Keighley to clear and Dinnington were soon on their own twenty-two conceding a penalty that Keighley kicked to go 20-8 ahead with a quarter of the game to go. Dinnington came close twice more in the next ten minutes but a foot in touch and a turnover saw the chances go by. Keighley continued to benefit from Dinnington errors and three minutes from time broke clear. Dinnington were able to defend the initial threat at the expense of a penalty but Keighley took it quickly and scored by the posts.

Team: Allott, Corker, S.Bunting, Shepard, Ashton, Bonsall, Donnelly, M.Leitch; C.Differ, West, Francis, Rodgers, Leivars, Fallon, Williams Reps: Starr, Cox, W.Marshall