Keighley 21 Darlington 15

The game started well for the home team, the domination of early possession and territory gave wingers Liam McGee and Adam Sutcliffe the chance to test the wide defence with some fine attacking runs. Eventually the Darlington line was breached with a trademark powerful break from centre Marco Ferrazzano. The forwards in close support cleared out the ruck and the ball was moved swiftly to Liam McGee who crossed in the corner.

Darlington stung into action realised that they needed to play to their strengths, as a result their big forwards continually drove play deep into the Keighley half, the sustained pressure from the big men gained reward with a penalty for full back Mark Baldwin. A few minutes later Darlington returned to Keighley territory, with the defence stretched a half break by outside half Owen Walden and quick hands gave centre Henry Carver an easy run in to the corner, converted by full back Baldwin.

Although Keighley rallied and came near to scoring with an excellent line break form centre Ben Blackwell, more often than not they were forced onto the back foot. From a line out on the Keighley five metre line all eight Darlington forwards forced their way over in the corner. Keighley managed to close the gap when quick thinking scrum half Alex Brown pounced on a loose ball at a ruck to score.

The second half with the weather closing in was a war of attrition. Keighley were able to raise their game and were intent on moving the ball as wide as possible giving the whole back line and fullback Harry Titley in particular chance to attack. The continual pressure soon told with two penalties from Alex Brown.

With both sets of forwards tiring Keighley through sheer effort and force of will kept play in the Darlington half. The pressure told, with the Keighley pack driving forward alert prop Craig Spencer broke off from a ruck to score in the corner.

With time running out Darlington stretched Keighley’s nerves to the limit. Although they gained a lot of good possession and stayed in the Keighley half for extended periods of time they were unable to break a committed Keighley defence, who on the day deserved the valuable league points.