Leeds Dentists & Medics 0 Keighley 28

The game started at a cracking pace with the Medics moving the ball wide at every opportunity. However, their efforts were absorbed by a defence well on top of their game.

Keighley with school boy scrum half Sam Chilvers orchestrating his supporting forwards managed to build up the pressure. From a driving line out number eight Josh Hannah drove over the line, full back Olly Mitchell added the conversion. The early score raised the visitor’s spirits and with Chilvers and outside half Rob Wilkinson calling the shots it was always going to be a difficult afternoon for the students.

Some well constructed forward play with Shaun Minikin and Josh Hannah in fine form led to a ruck near the try line, powerful forward Leigh Sugden picked up and was driven over by the pack. Once again Olly Mitchell added the difficult conversion.

In the second half The Medics threw caution to the wind and ran literally everything, a ploy designed to avoid the dominant loose play of the visiting forwards. The strategy worked, Keighley were denied possession for extended periods of time, and were trapped in their own half defending wave after wave of slick attacking play.

With centres Adam Horsfall and Danny McGee tackling their hearts out the pressure was eventually contained. Managing to gain some decent possession Keighley forced play into opposition territory. Good line out possession allowed the forwards to drive play at the retreating Medics forwards, a pick up and drive from Sugden led to his second try, Mitchell on fine form with the boot added the extras.

The students stuck to their game plan and returned to the attack, they moved the ball well and there were some fine individual efforts, but they were unable to breakthrough a rock solid defensive wall. Towards the end of the game Keighley through good interplay between forwards and backs gained a foothold in the hosts twenty two, Josh Hannah rounded off a good individual and team performance with a driving try from a line out. With Olly Mitchell substituted Rob Wilkinson landed the conversion from wide out.