Ilkley development 19-20 Keighley Academy

The Academy returned to action following the previous weeks mauling at home by Ossett 2nds with instructions to play with some real heart and not let each other down.

They did both in some style, a real battling performance against an extremely talented and very young Ilkley Development side who won't lose many this season.

Keighley started well putting the home side under pressure and making some good yards in attack.The Ilkley lads weren't going to be a pushover though and ran the ball wide at every opportunity.

Keighley kept on the pressure and eventually it paid dividends with a storming try from the returning Ian Buckley which was converted by Mark Beckett playing his first game for a few years!

The first half continued to be a tight affair with both sides giving their all, Ilkley lost a back row for 10 minutes after a tip tackle on skipper Lloyd was deemed yellow rather than red , Keighley did then before half time nudge 3 more points in front with a well struck penalty by Beckett before half time.

Good talk at half time seemed lost as Keighley were caught asleep from the kick off and Ilkley readily accepted 5 easy points. The pressure was on now , the tireless James Tillotson at scrum half trying to keep the side going forward at all times was magnificent but Ilkley just would not give in , their left wing latched on to s deft chip over the Keighley defence to score a good try which was converted to give the home side a 12-10 lead.

Sustained Keighley pressure particularly in the forwards with at least two 10 to 15 meter old fashioned scrum drives resulted with Buckley crossing for a much deserved 2nd try.

Conversion missed Keighley looked to hold on but this is a very good Ilkley side who stole away to score in the corner. While the Keighley players licked their wounds there was confusion as the Ilkley 10 was red carded before taking the conversion only to be reinstated after intervention from Keighley skipper Lloyd who was taking a well-earned rest and informed the ref he had mid heard the 10.

Rubbing salt into the wounds the rightly returned 10 stuck the conversion over from the touch line! Pressure? Think Japan!!

Backs to the wall Keighley battled back, a storming break by Beckett who unselfishly passed to Cooley to score out wide!

Conversion missed but the whistle blew within a couple of minutes and Keighley had earned a much needed and very much deserved win!

Hats off to the Ilkley lads, they battled hard and I'm sure they will have taken a lot from this defeat.

Great game this rugby is!

Match Reporter - Loz Marklew