Strong running from Dale and poor defence from Keighley allowed the visitors to lay a foundation of 17 points, crossing Keighleys line in the fifth, tenth and fourteenth minute.

Luckily for the home side only the first was converted.

0 - 17

Keighleys forwards dug deep and battled for possession and a foothold from which to halt the Wharfdale advance.

Led by Nico Mori and Harvey Bird, storming drives and clattering tackles created a platform for the ball to be fed down the Keighley line.

Tom Richardson was unable to cross the line being held up one metre short.

The halftime whistle blew on a still reeling Keighley side.

Halftime 0 - 17

Hopes were high for a reversal of fortunes at the restart but three minutes in those hopes were dashed.

A blistering return from the Wharfdale right wing outpaced the Keighley defence and crossed the line in a fine solo try.
The conversion was added.

0 - 24

Wharfdale repeatedly tested the Keighley backs with rapier like darting runs and high balls.

Jack McHugh, Dan Smillie and Josh Tenniswood were tenacious tacklers.

Lennon Curr, Bobby Darbyshire and Aaron Wilson were reassuringly secure under testing high kicks with Ethan Lawrie reading the game well and providing cover where needed.

The effort of chasing the game began to tell on the Keighley team and a scrum on the home 22 allowed the Wharfdale forwards to bulldoze over the line out wide.
The conversion was pulled to the left of the posts.

0 - 29

Keighley once again dug deep and Alex Feather picking up from the back of the scrum punched in behind the Wharfdale pack.

In the final minutes Wharfdale were again on the attack.

Slick handling along the backline found a tired Keighley unable to halt their advance and a now confident Whafdale scored and converted again.

0 - 36

Full Time

Keighley Coaches awarded Man of the match to Nico Mori whose work ethic and willingness to drive forward was outstanding.

Report Lee Spragg

Match details

Match date

Sun 19 Oct 2014

Kickoff

10:30

Team overview