Stuttering Keighley’s Short-Game Woes

Game 1 – Old Rishworthians v Keighley

The game started brightly but consecutive forward passes to a flat attacking formation gave Old Rish hope but Keighley’s strength in the scrum held sway. However a quick touch and go with the Keighley boys still making their way back saw the Old Rish Fly half waltz through Keighley flat footed defence to score. Try converted.
SCORE - Old Rishworthians 7 - Keighley 0 – (2 mins)
From the restart Keighley latched onto the Lennon Curr ball deep into the Old Rish corner and good recycling from the maul by Jack Rodbourne to Jayden Emmott gave the nippy Full Back the chance he needed to jink over in the far corner. Zac Scott missed the conversion attempt.
SCORE - Old Rishworthians 7 - Keighley 5 – (4 mins)
Keighley started to build in good phases and their urgency put pressure on the Old Rish line with Joss McArthur’s strength in the maul and the continual endeavour of Scrum Half Keir Welch and the willingness of Captain Lennon Curr saw Keighley camped in the Old Rish half and persistence paid off when James Field re-cycled quickly to Aaron Wilson who stepped back into contact presenting for Rodbourne to steal and touch over in the left corner. Curr converted.
SCORE - Old Rishworthians 7 – Keighley 12 – (6 mins)
With strategic changes made at half time, the second half played out relatively easily for Keighley who soaked up any Old Rish pressure and they remained comfortable until the end without adding further to the score-sheet.
FINAL SCORE – Old Rish 7 - Keighley 12
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Game 2 – Ilkley v Keighley
Despite being caught cold in the first game, Keighley started the 2nd game with renewed vigour.
Keighley attacked from the start with Curr kicking strongly for territory. Keighley won the resulting line-out with a strong catch from Jack McHugh and with Prop Harvey Bird driving well they pressured the Ilkley back row.
Keighley’s attacking endeavour paid dividends when the ball was slipped from a good scrum drive on the Ilkley 5 to Field at Outside Centre who burst over in the corner to score the first try which Curr duly converted.
SCORE – Ilkley 0 – Keighley 7 – (4 mins)
Ilkley started to come back into the playing some controlled rugby forcing Keighley into their final quarter but Keighley battened down the hatches, with solid defensive displays from Emmott and McHugh and great determination going forward from Scott, Curr and Welch.
On the stroke of half time Wilson stole into the corner for his second of the Tournament with Curr again converting.
SCORE – Ilkley 0 – Keighley 14 – (7 mins)
From the re-start, Field’s speed in closing down the opposition and then strong hands in contact gifted Scott quick ball and the Centre side stepped over for an opportunist try, Curr again converting.
SCORE – Ilkley 0 – Keighley 21 – (8 mins)
Keighley dominated the remainder of the half but resilient Ilkley defence negated the domination but with Harry Gould’s strength going forward and Bobby Darbyshire’s endeavour, Keighley didn’t look to be under particular pressure despite at times lacking concentration, running out worthy winners.
FINAL SCORE - Ilkley 0 – Keighley 21
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Game 3 – Keighley v Wharfedale – Battle of the Titans!
With Wharfedale having won both earlier games at a canter without conceding a try, Keighley knew they were in for a battle royale.
Keighley started brightly and were on top in the early skirmishes with Scott, Emmott and Darbyshire all taking good contact and Field and Welch both showing good enterprise going forward.
With both teams trading blow for blow and both causing breakdown in midfield, the stalemate was finally broken when Wharfedale capitalised on a dropped ball out of another maul and scored in the centre, the conversion duly made.
SCORE – Keighley 0 – Wharfedale 7 – (4 mins)
Keighley attacked from the restart and a great strategic kick into the right corner by Curr immediately put ‘Dale under pressure. Keighley won the lineout and Rodbourne powered over into the corner only for the try to be disallowed for a toe into touch!
This further galvanised Keighley into action but the half ended with ‘Dale having the upper hand.
Keighley kept up the pressure in the second half and had by far the better possession, but were frustrated by some poor decision making about distribution and excellent defence from ‘Dale and try as they might, they couldn’t break through.
FINAL SCORE – Keighley 0 – Wharfedale 7
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Game 4 - Huddersfield v Keighley
With a place in the 3rd Place Final up for grabs, Keighley started the final game knowing that they needed a win to qualify.
However their tentative play and over-cautious approach only highlighted handling errors but when pressure was applied at a lineout on the Huddersfield 5 Rodbourne stole to touch over in the corner. Scott missed the conversion attempt.
SCORE – Huddersfield 0 – Keighley 5 (6 mins)
Huddersfield started by far the brightest in the 2nd Half and again capitalised on a sleepy Keighley defence with their centre strolling through unchallenged to level the scores. The conversion was duly added and Huddersfield took the lead.
SCORE – Huddersfield 7 – Keighley 5 (9 mins)
Keighley pressed and pushed to no avail until the end of the game but the resilience and determination of the Huddersfield squad served once more to frustrate the Keighley boys.
FINAL SCORE – Huddersfield 7 – Keighley 5
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Coaches Comments
“This was a disappointing tournament for us. We didn't perform to our potential and the boys know it and unfortunately, not enough of our better players appeared to be up for the challenge today. As coaches, it has given us plenty to work on” commented Coach Steve Welch.

“We played some good rugby in patches and indifferent rugby in patches in the first two games” added Coach Nigel Curr “. We defended very well in the last two games especially against Wharfedale. As usual we tried to play our normal flowing game of rugby and we should have defeated Huddersfield, but decision making let us down in key areas of the pitch at key times in the game” he concluded.
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Keighley Trophy Winners

Forwards – Joss McArthur
Backs – Zac Scott
Parents Player – Aaron Wilson
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