Keighley U11s 20 Harrogate U11s 0

This meeting could have been considered a ‘clash of the titans’ as the two teams met on the unfamiliar turf of Headingley Stadium surrounded by other matches of younger age groups. This appeared to be the way the opposing sets of players saw it too as the ‘giants’ collided for a no-holds barred tussle during the half time interval of Leeds v Saracens.
Keighley had obviously summered well and the hard work put in during the summer months showed as they drove forward from the first whistle, hardly stopping for breath and giving their North Yorkshire opponents little sight of the ball. Whereas last season saw the team relying on simple direct driving, this match showed all the traits of a quality team in the making – quick handling, deft offloads, clever mauling and above all else clear ball won at the ruck. Keighley won scrum after scrum and the forwards gave a solid platform at every breakdown for the backs to move the ball down the line. In defence it was clear that the opposition were simply not going to get through, however hard they drove. The Keighley tackling was ferocious and resolute.
Four tries won the game, these coming from Harvey Kemp, Harry Gallagher, Ellie Kildunne and Liam Brookes but each and every Keighley player should hold their heads high for the performance that they put in, all of them looking totally composed and at home on a rugby pitch.

Duncan Grant