Old Brodleians 30 Keighley 20

Old Brods brimming with confidence and bolstered by the presence of numerous Southern Hemisphere players showed their intent from the off, moving the ball wide at every opportunity. Initially the Keighley defence was up to the task. However their defence was overpowered when a good forward drive gave scrum half Joe Armitage the chance to cross wide out. Although Keighley fought hard and caused problems for the opposition they were outgunned up front, eventually good linking between forwards and backs gave Old Brod’s winger Matt Hoyle a run into the corner. Keighley replied with a penalty from centre Ben Blackwell. Brods added to the scoreline with a penalty from Hoyle. Near the end of the half Keighley with Stuart Inman and Leigh Sugden leading the forwards and Danny McGee controlling things in the backs began to make inroads into Brods territory, their efforts were rewarded with a penalty form Blackwell.

Playing down the slope in the second half Keighley began well, but a slick Brods counter attack and a powerful drive from Tongan Tipiloma Kivalu gave winger Kris Sharples an easy run in, converted by Hoyle. To make matters worse a galloping run through the middle by New Zealander Sam Deacon took Keighley by surprise and a try wide out. Keighley with nothing to lose regained their spirit of old, with big centres Blackwell and Ferrazzano driving through the middle and new boy Liam Kelly proving to be a handful on the wing the opposition were forced back into their twenty two metre area. A Brods handling error at the back of a ruck was pounced on by live wire wing forward Tom Lowther and the first try for Keighley, converted by Blackwell. The new found confidence and strong running and support from all the forwards allowed Keighley to gain the ascendancy in the loose. Brods weathered a lot of pressure on their line and were relieved to clear the ball up field. Keighley now in the driving seat drove their way back into the opposition territory; the consistent pressure was rewarded with a second try for Lowther, Blackwell adding the extras. With time running out and a real chance of winning the game Keighley were forced to throw caution to the wind and chase the game, unfortunately for them ex-Bradford and Bingley hooker James Brown burgled the ball as Keighley tried to use the short side following a scrum and ran unchallenged to the line. Brods, now leading by 10 points, still had to endure a torrid last five minutes. Brod’s lock Matt Willis was yellow carded and Keighley, looking capable of scoring another try, opted instead for what looked a fairly easy penalty to earn them a losing bonus point. However, it was wide and Keighley went unrewarded when they were held up over the Brods try line in possession in the final play of the game.
Although Keighley were beaten they will probably take great heart from a good performance against strong opposition, which should stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.