Keighley 18 West Leeds 31

West Leeds started the game well. Excellent positional kicking and good line speed in defence kept Keighley in their own half and under pressure. At a line out deep in their own twenty two the Keighley forwards were unable to cope with a driving maul which led to a try for back rower James Kirk, full back Keir Breakwell added the difficult conversion.

Maintaining their momentum the visitors gained a penalty from Breakwell, quickly followed by a try for second rower Dan Bird after some excellent approach work from the pack. Breakwell in fine form with the boot added the extras. Towards the end of the half Keighley finally got going, with some strong running they pressured West Leeds into mistakes, forcing two penalties that full back Alex Brown converted.

The second half started badly for Keighley, a kick out of defence was returned with interest when speedy winger Josh Cassell finished off an attack from deep, evading some lack lustre tackling he breezed over in the corner, converted by Breakwell.

With the game slipping away from them the Keighley forwards raised their game, although they struggled for parity in the scrum they were dominant in the tackle area, with West Leeds in retreat some fine interplay between forwards and backs was finished off by winger Luke Carter who scored in the corner. From that point onwards the home forwards were on the rampage, West Leeds were trapped in their half under severe pressure.

Good runs from forwards Josh Hannah and Leigh Sugden well supported by the rest of the pack gave Keighley’s captain Will Armitage a well taken try, converted by Brown. With six points the difference and domination of territory and possession, and at least ten minutes left to play, Keighley looked set to snatch victory.

However, white line fever got the better of them, rather than steadily building up the pressure they were too intent on forcing the game, a ‘miracle ball’ long loose pass was intercepted which led to a break out from the Keighley twenty two metre area and a try for Jack Marshall, Breakwell finished the scoring with the conversion.