KEIGHLEY ACADEMY 24-17 WEST PARK LEEDS 2NDS

On an day resembling a mild Autumn afternoon rather than the middle of winter, Keighley's Academy were keen to get back to winning ways after last weeks dissapoinment at Ribb.
Keighley's opponents were a West Park Leeds team made up of a mixture of 1sts coming back from injury , 2nds and Vets.
The game went from end to end , with both teams unable to gain an advantage. Keighley, with Andrew Marklew running things from half back were thwarted on several occasions with spoiling tactics from the opposition. Unable to turn a great deal of possession into points , Keighley were punished , against the run of play when West Park broke from half way to score at the side of the posts. A missed conversion made the score 0-5 to the visitors, and that's how the scores stayed until the half time whistle.
Keighley started the second half brightly and on 50 minutes Marklew continued his impressive performance with a solo try, unable to add the extras the score was all square at 5-5. On 60 minutes Jordan Yaxley another success story from the Keighley youth system made his Academy debut and immediately set to work on impressing with a good break in mid field. West Park were again next to add points , when fast hands created an overlap enabling them to go over in the corner for an unconverted try to stretch their lead to 5-10.
This appeared to spring Keighley into life and on 65 minutes after a spell of pressure Nathan Berry hit a crash ball to go over at the side of the posts. With Marklew leaving the field with a hamstring injury kicking duties were handed to Nigel Curr who duly obliged with the extras giving Keighley the lead for the first time in the game 12-10. By now Keighley were visually lifted with Neil Jordan , Dave Pullen and Micky Phillips looking particularly dangerous. Cue the customery Micky Phillips "Rib Tickler" crash tackle which unsettled the West Park attack gaining Keighley more possession. Neil Jordan crowned a strong display with a further try to stretch Keighley's lead, Curr adding the extras making the score 19-10.
West Park were stung into action and were rewarded with a superb solo try from their winger , the conversion added narrowing the gap to 19-17. This led to a nervy last few minutes , but fortune favours the brave and Keighley were rewarded for all their hard work with a last minute Nigel Curr try to seal the game. The missed conversion was the last play of the game and Keighley came away with a very impressive scoreline of 24-17.
A fantastic overall team performance and a very impressive debut from man of the match Jordan Yaxley . A joy to watch ... Onwards and Upwards