Keighley 29 - Huddersfield 21

Keighley vs Huddersfield

Keighley built on their success from the previous weekend with a strong performance against Huddersfield.

Huddersfield arrived short on numbers and we agreed to play 13 a side with uncontested scrums due to a number of players being asked to play in the front row with little experience in the Huddersfield squad.

The game kicked off and Keighley were immediately the dominant team, holding Huddersfield in their 22. The Keighley squad ran through several phases of play, retaining the ball but unable to break through the Huddersfield defence. Sam Grant found the gap and drove through for a try.

The remainder of the second half followed the same script, with Keighley remaining in control within the Huddersfield half of the pitch. There was great support play from the whole team, with very few plays where anyone was left isolated.

Attacks from the Keighley backs were well defended by the Huddersfield backs; it was through the forwards that Keighley had the upper hand. As the Keighley squad read the game they focussed on the short pass game with the forwards in close support. A great decision that awarded them with a further two converted tries and one disallowed try, for a double movement.

The first half finishing with the home team in front by 19 – 0.

The second half started in the same form as the first with Keighley holding Huddersfield in their half; however, Huddersfield had started to use the defensive kick to their advantage. They cleared their lines with well-placed kicks that had the Keighley full back and wingers sprinting back to recover the ball and start a new attack phase.

The demand on the wingers and full back began to drain the speed available, which Huddersfield used to score three tries in quick succession mid-way through the half. Their wingers out sprinting our backs to score tries from deep in their own half, freed by well-placed kicks.

Keighley were rocked as with just under 10 minutes to go they were 2 points behind.

At this stage they reverted back to their area of dominance, the short game with the forwards gaining significant ground through the pod, pick and drive. This had immediate impact and Keighley drove their forwards over the line for two final tries in the 57th and 59th minute.

A great team effort throughout the full match. There was no individual display today, just the full squad working together at their best to drive to the winning score. All the subs were great in their impact as they entered the game, being given the opportunity to stay on the pitch for up to 20 minutes at a time, and showing the best they can perform. We even saw a number of the recently trained moves appearing the match, driven by the team themselves and not following a steer by the coaches.

A delight to watch, superb performance and well worked win.

We still have a couple of areas to develop further, but this match clearly showed we are developing a stronger, more skilled and self-controlled squad that will drive further success in the following matches
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The following is the match summary:

First Half:
05:00 Try to Keighley scored by Sam Grant
05:00 Missed conversion by Tom Oddy
Keighley 5 – Huddersfield 0

18:00 Try to Keighley scored by Jordan Yaxley
18:00 Conversion by Tom Oddy
Keighley 12 – Huddersfield 0

20:00 Try to Keighley scored by Tom Oddy
20:00 Conversion by Tom Oddy
Keighley 19 – Huddersfield 0

Second Half::

42:00 Try to Huddersfield
42:00 Conversion to Huddersfield
Keighley 19 – Huddersfield 7

45:00 Try to Huddersfield
45:00 Conversion to Huddersfield
Keighley 19 - Huddersfield 14

53:00 Try to Huddersfield
53:00 Conversion to Huddersfield
Keighley 19 – Huddersfield 21

57:00 Try to Keighley scored by Jordan Yaxley
57:00 Missed conversion for Keighley by Tom Oddy
Keighley 24 – Huddersfield 21

59:00 Try to Keighley scored by Sam Grant
59:00 Missed conversion by Tom Oddy
Keighley 29 - Huddersfield 21
Full Time.

Match Honours::

Man of the Match – Harry Gallagher
Voted by the referee for great handling of the ball in the close game around the pack. Great decisions being made to release the ball with swift and accurate passing. Also a strong game in defensive tackling.

Coaches Award – Jordan Yaxley
A very strong performance for the full match. Huge impact in the loose game being the driving force of the pack to win ball in the ruck, and a driving force in the pick and drive, gaining a huge amount of ground.

Top Tackler – Hudson Debney–Succocia
Entering the game from the bench with immediate impact. Never missing a tackle and halting the Huddersfield attack on several occasions. A strong and determined performance to illustrate the positive impact that he can have on a game.