1st XV
Matches
Sat 15 Sep 2012  ·  North 1 East
Keighley RUFC
1st XV
20
23
Northern
Keighley 20 Northern 23

Keighley 20 Northern 23

Kate Metcalfe23 Sep 2012 - 08:59
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.keighleyrufc.com/t

This was going to be the sternest test of the new season thus far.

Northern having topped the 100 point mark in two unbeaten outings were one of the form teams of the North One East League.

Keighley started badly, Northern dominated possession and ran the ball at every opportunity, within five minutes the writing was on the wall when burly winger H. Mongan danced his way through three would be tacklers to score, outside half D Collins converted and a few minutes later added a penalty.

Keighley who had paid Northern too much respect, and given them too much space were stung into action, the forwards with scrum half Danny Lester’s prompting led the charge. The big men especially Sugden and Clarke set up a series of drives up the middle into opposition territory, quick ball found centre Scott Dyson at pace, taking out two defenders he slipped the ball to captain Sugden who drove over to score, converted by Ben Blackwell.

A little later Blackwell added a penalty to level the scores. Although Northern varied their play, and made good use of possession there was no way through a resolute Keighley defence. The centre partnership of Dyson and Blackwell were outstanding breaking up any moves down the middle. On the stroke of half time Northern’s Collins increased their lead with a well taken penalty.

In the second half the Keighley forwards with new boys Smith Brown and Ashley Waligura well to the fore began to dominate the scrums and the contact area putting the opposition under extreme pressure.

After working their way into Northern’s twenty two metre the ball was released to Ben Blackwell who drew the last of the defence before floating a pass to the wing, unfortunately for Keighley the ball was dropped. Eventually Keighley’s forward pressure told, a pick up from a scrum and a short drive led to a second try for Sugden, converted by Blackwell. Northern responded with a penalty from Collins.

In an enthralling final phase of the match, with both teams playing some expansive rugby Ben Blackwell managed to extend Keighley’s lead with a penalty. With time running out Northern patiently set up a series of rucks in the Keighley twenty two, pressure and a lapse in defence gave their centre John Duffy the opportunity to cross wide out. Outside half Collins who had an outstanding game finished the scoring with a difficult conversion.

Keighley dismayed at the loss had to make do with a loser’s bonus point and the comforting knowledge that they are more than able to cope at this level of league rugby.

This Saturday another difficult home encounter against Middlesbrough.

Match details

Match date

Sat 15 Sep 2012

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

North 1 East
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Rugby Development Sponsor  - Adaptive Control Solutions Ltd.
Silver Sponsor - Hebden and holding
Silver Sponsor - Calvert Construction
Stags Sponsor - Front Five Building Services
Sponsor - Sugden Amenity
Club Sponsor - Sugden Contractors