Keighley Under 11’s Expunge Their Demons!

With kicking allowed, 5-man scrums and a full back in use for the first time, Wharfedale kicked off into the right-hand corner and immediately the task at hand was very apparent as the visitors looked to use their speed and agility going forward to put Keighley under pressure.

Having never beaten Wharfedale previously, Keighley’s initial approach was tentative and the visitors managed to break through using their pace on two occasions but their handling proved suspect as initial efforts were thwarted by resolute Keighley defence and a knock-on where the ball was not grounded.

Keighley absorbed the pressure and tackled ferociously and with Fly Half Lennon Curr’s excellent defensive kicking, the game appeared to be very evenly balanced.

Having lost a scrum on the half way line, a moment of indecision from the Keighley back row allowed the Wharfedale centre to evade two loose tackles to scramble the ball over the line after 7 minutes where the visitors had the home team pinned in their own ½ of the pitch. Just rewards for great endeavour.

SCORE – Keighley 0 – Wharfedale 5 (7 Minutes)

Undeterred, Keighley attacked following Lennon Currs’ long re-start kick and the power of the Keighley forwards in the tackle was beginning to tell.

Sustained pressure followed and with a series of penalties given against Wharfedale, Keighley moved ever closer to the visitors’ line. When Captain Jack Rodbourne stole the ball on 10 yards, fed Joss McArthur who in turn slipped the ball to James Whitcombe, the Keighley forwards were on the charge and with Wharfedale players literally hanging on in the tackle, Whitcombe powered over for the reply to even up the scores.

SCORE – Keighley 5 – Wharfedale 5 (12½ Minutes)

The game ebbed and flowed at speed with both teams playing some exhilarating, entertaining rugby and with new Scrum Half Soel Counsell revelling in the challenge and Full Back Jaydon Emmott showing good awareness and vision, Keighley began to put together some strong phases of attacking rugby.

With Zac Scott and Keir Welch leading the tackle count, Keighley once more needed to show their mettle as Wharfedale attacked hard at speed down the flanks and when the ball flew loose in the centre, Wharfedale were awarded a fortunate try despite the best efforts of James Field and Scott on the line.

SCORE – Keighley 5 – Wharfedale 10 (14½ Minutes)

Keighley built slowly from the re-start and Field with the try line beckoning was put through by Rodbourne only for it to be judged a forward pass.

With Joss McArthur and Joseph Myers getting more and more involved with some surging powerful runs and both Wingers Aaron Wilson and Tom Richardson being fed good wide ball, Keighley began to dominate with good open play and excellent rucking.

Despite being one score down, Keighley finished the half very much on top.

HALF TIME - Keighley 5 – Wharfedale 10

The introduction of Harry Gould at the start of the second half brought almost immediate results with the powerful forward benefitting from a sharp pass inside from Wilson to touch down in the right corner to bring status quo.

SCORE – Keighley 10 – Wharfedale 10 (21½ Minutes)

Keighley kept up the pressure from the re-start and took the lead for the first time when they forced Wharfedale onto the back foot from the scrum and when Counsell slid the ball to Curr, the Fly Half dropped the ball into space well into the Wharfedale half with Field and Scott laying chase. Good interplay putting the visitors Full Back under pressure, the mistake enforced and Scott bundled over for his first try of the new season.

SCORE – Keighley 15 – Wharfedale 10 (25 Minutes)

With their confidence high, Keighley rebutted every Wharfedale attack and they started building good fluid moves, using the complete width of the pitch and with the incessant pressure applied by the Forwards, Wharfedale appeared not to be able to counter and when Scott powered over in the corner for his second try on 27 minutes to widen the gap further, Keighley at last looked to be playing to their full potential.

SCORE – Keighley 20 – Wharfedale 10 (27 Minutes)

This setback only served to inspire a spirited fight-back from Wharfedale but in all departments, Keighley appeared to have the answer and with Wilson and Gould combining again on the right a try was on the cards until Wilson was forced into touch as he grounded the ball.

Keighley kept up the pressure though and from the next scrum, the ball broke loose and Whitcombe surged towards the line again with 4 hanging on, passed to Rodborne who took over to score Keighley’s 5th try of the game.

SCORE – Keighley 25 – Wharfedale 10 (29 Minutes)

Keighley dominated the scrums with the additional power from their second row but on 34 minutes Wharfedale turned over the ball from a 5 yards scrum and scored to close the gap.

SCORE – Keighley 25 – Wharfedale 15 (34 Minutes)

With 5 minutes remaining Wharfedale continued to pressure the home team but when Rodborne left the field after a clash of heads and Whitcombe was injured by a late challenge while kicking away behind his own try line the 2 replacements Harvey Bird and Austin Flaherty showed their mettle and Keighley battened down the hatches to maintain the lead and record a well-earned victory in this extremely competitive encounter.

FINAL SCORE - Keighley 25 – Wharfedale 15

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COACHES COMMENTS: - “We showed complete commitment and a real attitude today and the boys really wanted this win. We showed great desire even when we went behind early and pride in wearing the Keighley badge really meant something” said Coach Steve Welch. “The changes we made a half time made an immediate impact and illustrates our strength in depth in the squad that we have” he added. “This is a great positive start to the season and the standards are set even higher now – this game was a fantastic advertisement for Junior Rugby” he concluded.
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Try Scorers: - James Whitcombe, Zac Scott (2), Jack Rodbourne and Harry Gould.
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Keighley Trophy Winners

Forwards – Joss McArthur

Backs – Soel Counsell

Parents Player – James Whitcombe
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