Heath 18 Keighley 15

Heath looking neat and composed were content to kick and chase the ball up field, and play in Keighley territory. Using smart offloads and changing the point of contact gave Heath winger Josh Lister the opportunity to round a stretched defence to score; playmaker Ezra Hinchliffe added the extras. Keighley stepped up their game but found it difficult to retain possession through poor execution.

Heath taking advantage moved the ball wide to winger Si Brown who crossed in the corner. Heath at this stage were quicker in thought and deed, and finished the half with a penalty from Hinchliffe.

Whatever the Keighley coaches said at half time worked, the forewords were much more focused and aggressive at the breakdown and some excellent work from Leigh Sugden and Josh Hannah in particular took play into opposition territory, a period of sustained pressure was rewarded with quick handling and a try in the corner for outside half Alex Brown who also landed the difficult conversion.

A little later Brown increased his tally with a penalty. Heath forced their way back into the Keighley twenty two metre area and gained a penalty for Ezra Hinchliffe. Keighley intent on chasing the game threw everything they had at the opposition; unfortunately some good work was undone through attempts at ‘miracle’ offloads instead of patient build up. Eventually common sense prevailed; gaining good field position they scored their second try through simple handling rugby, full back Danny McGee crossing wide out.

Although Keighley finished strongly, giving a decent team a fifteen points start was too big a handicap and they were forced to be satisfied with a losing bonus point.