Keighley 34 - 15 Skipton

Keighley continued their winning run of form with a comprehensive team performance against a determined Skipton team.

Keighley took the play deep into Skipton territory from the start where Billy Todd drove from the base of a scrum to force his way over for a try.

From the restart Keighley forced Skipton back into their half where Keighley launched repeated attacks, bur some determined tackling from Skipton denied Keighley.

Eventually Keighley worked the ball wide to put Liam King in for his first try of the day, with Matty Storton impressively landing the conversion from a difficult angle.

Skipton responded with a well worked try to get them on the scoreboard, but Keighley rallied, with Kaleb Shaw, Louis Holmes, McKenzie Kirkland and the ever present Todd turning over possession and running hard to sustain pressure on Skipton resulting in Dom Dobson scoring a well deserved try.

Keighley continued to run at Skipton with Elliott Rothery, Henry Pratt and Connor Holmes securing possession to enable Jonny Tanner to repeatedly launch Keighley’s Backs, where Reece Holmes and Ryan Vero tackled well and ran even better at Skipton to create space for Keighley’s winger’s Bill Cubitt and Liam King.

Nonetheless Skipton got themselves back into the game with another good try before Keighley responded bringing on substitutes Joe Evans-Haddani and Cameron Bealey Kay who scored just before half time to see Keighley lead 22-10 at the break.

The game continued with some good play from both sides, and Tommy Thorpe showed pace and ingenuity running from Full back to allow Keighley to keep the pressure on Skipton.

Jonny Tanner scavenged loose ball off the floor to move the ball out to Matty Storton who used the space to draw in Skipton’s defence before giving a well timed pass to Cameron Bealey Kay, who having committed the last defender put Liam King clear for his second try beneath the posts, showing using his electric pace to leave Skipton tacklers in his wake.

Skipton fought back tenaciously and it took determined defence from Keighley to deny them with McKenzie Kirkland, Kaleb Shaw and Billy Todd working hard to repel Skipton’s forwards and Keighley’s backs also tackling ferociously where Bill Cubitt and Liam King gave faultless performances and Tommy Thorpe made sure Skipton were denied.

Keighley fought back into Skipton territory and from a ruck Billy Todd barged over for a thoroughly deserved second try.

Skipton showed their resilience by scoring again just before full time and Keighley defended for the last two minutes to hold onto an impressive lead.

This performance demonstrated how Keighley are improving their all round play with all the team playing their part and playing attractive rugby for their supporters. Hard work at training is paying dividends and they must continue to work hard to maintain this level of improvement.