Leodiensians 34 Keighley 31

The first half saw Keighley dominating the exchanges. A strong rolling maul at a line out and a quick ball to Marco Ferrazzano on the charge led to the first try. Leo’s responded quickly and a break down the left was stopped short when full back Liam Everett made a well timed try saving tackle. Keighley once again turned the screw, a charged down kick by Ferrazzano and a flick up to supporting to wing forward Shaun Minikin brought the second try, Alan Ebbrell added the conversion.

Leos responded with a penalty from outside half Ed Farmer. Keighley in control once again, and with the forwards carrying well, especially Mathew Hagyard and Sam Booker, causing Leos a great deal of difficulty. Eventually the continual pressure paid off when centre Adam Horsfall and winger Luke Carter broke through for well worked tries, Ebbrell managed one of the conversions.

Just before the half time whistle Leos gained a line out deep in the opposition territory. From the ensuing rolling maul captain Chris Lewis crossed wide out.

Early in the second half Leo’s were quickly out of the blocks, but good defensive work kept them out. The Keighley forwards took play deep into the opposition half. At a breakdown veteran second rower Steve Welsh picked up and sprinted away to score, Alan Ebbrell added the extras. With a substantial twenty three point lead Keighley appeared to take their foot off the gas, losing their concentration and resolve. The forwards became lack lustre, this aspect combined with poor defensive lines speed from the backs gave Leos the opportunity they needed.

With a plentiful supply of ball and space, outside half Ed Farmer was in his element. His crisp handling made space for centre Mark McDaid who simply ran through a non existent defence to score, Farmer kicked the conversion. A few minutes later fellow centre Mark Winter crossed wide out. Keighley seemingly unable to play percentage rugby chose to stick with a relatively open game, in many respects the wrong game at this stage of the match.

Gaining in confidence the older, heavier Leo’s forwards began to dominate the breakdown, which tied up the Keighley back row and allowed their backs time and space to continually switch the point of attack, leading to tries for wingers Rob Magill and Steve Plummer, Ed Farmer crowned a fine afternoons work with both conversions.

Although Keighley gained two bonus points for this match it was certainly a game that that they should have won. Hopefully it was a learning experience that they will carry forward into this Saturday’s home fixture against another Leeds team Moortown.