Keighley 19 Middlesbrough 17

Both teams started well, early Middlesbrough pressure was rewarded by a penalty for outside half Jack Bircham. A period of midfield attrition saw both teams testing each other in all phases of play. Eventually, some powerful breaks by Keighley’s Leigh Sugden and the centre pairing of Scott Dyson and Ben Blackwell led to a penalty for Alex Brown.

Slowly, as the half wound down Keighley began to dominate possession through a solid scrum and excellent line out work from Josh Hannah. Keighley were pressuring Middlesbrough in their twenty two metre area, Leigh Sugden in characteristic style picked up some five metres out after excellent approach work from Scott Dyson and drove over for a fine try, converted by Brown. Keighley with their noses in front allowed Middlesbrough back into the game.

As the half time whistle beckoned Middlesbrough using their three quarters to full advantage moved the ball well to level the score line with an excellent try for strong running centre Norris, converted by Bircham.

The second half saw some adventurous play from both teams. However, defences were on top of their game and there was little to show for a great deal of effort. The deadlock was broken when Alex Brown landed a penalty.

Middlesbrough unable to break through a solid Keighley changed tactics and kicked deep into Keighley territory, however the ball was more often than not returned with interest with some outstanding hanging kicks from Danny McGee chased by winger Phillips and centre Blackwell, one such chase forced a defending player to hold on in a tackle and a further three points from the trusty boot of Alex Brown.

Almost on the stroke of full time a last ditch attack from Middlesbrough gave their burly winger Josh Evans the chance to squeeze in at the corner, outside half Jack Bircham slotted a very difficult conversion to finish the game, and a deserved losing bonus point.

A first home win for Keighley in the North One East league. A good start to the early part of the season. However, they face a testing time this Saturday away to league leaders Wheatley Hills who are unbeaten.