Keighley U14 vs Bradford Salem U14

Bradford Salem got the mornings proceedings underway kicking off to an eager Keighley 15.
Keighleys forwards, relishing the challenge, gained territory through a series of drives.
Alex Feather lead the charge with a 20m break to the Salem 22.
The Salem efforts to halt the advance resulted in a penalty on the 22 and Lennon Curr thumped the ball between the uprights.

3 - 0

The restart saw Keighley lose the ball due to a wayward pass. Salem capitalised and good handling along the back line tested the Keighley defence.

Poor discipline in the contact area resulted in five penalties in quick sucession against Keighley.

Keighleys defence held and secured a scrum on their 22.
The ball was duly won and fed along the back line to Tom Richardson who made valuable yards along the right wing.
Lennon Curr tried to relieve the pressure on Keighley with a searching kick downfield.
Salem managed to keep the ball in play and with strong running from their centres, managed to cross the Keighley line wide on the right.
the conversion atempt was successful.

3 - 7

The match resumed with Ethan Lawrie pursuing the kick and resecuring the ball for Keighley.
Lucas Ryan seized the opportunity to power down-field and link with his backline.
Lennon Curr fed Zach Scott who popped the ball to captain James Field on the inside who carved through the Salem defence and scored to the right of the posts.
Lennon Curr confidently slotted the ball over for the extra points.

10 - 7

Salem opted to kick deep from the restart and it was gathered by Nico Mori who returned the ball 25m with a characteristic determined drive.
Salems defensive efforts resulted in a Keighley penalty.
Keighley opted to run the ball and a bullocking charge from Jack Rodbourne was too much for the Salem defence and he galloped accross the line to score.
Ethan Lawrie was unable to convert.

15 - 7

Halftime

Keighley were slow to wake up after the break and a penalty gave Salem the opportunity to send the ball along the backs to their strong running centre who broke three tackles and scored under the posts.
The conversion was a formality.

15 - 14

Midfield to-ing and fro-ing and seesawing advantage saw little progress for either team.
successive scrums tied up and tired out both packs.

A Keighley knock on from a Salem high ball gave the visitors the put in at a scrum 15m inside the Keighley half.
Quick ball from the base of the scrum again released the Salem centres and missed tackles and strong running allowed the Salem man to cross the whitewash again.
Extra points were added as the conversion was good.

15 - 21

At this point both teams seemed to rouse themselves.
Good clean ball from a line out caught Salem offside and quick thinking from the Keighley scrum half Keir Welch saw him take a quick tap and dart and dodge elusively through the dazed defence.
Scott Thornton in support received the ball and powered his way over the line out wide on the left.
The long range conversion was neatly taken by Ethan Lawrie.

22 - 21

Game on!

Midfield deadlock ensued until a long ball at a Keighley lineout saw a clean catch and present from Luis Spragg at the back of the line.
The Keighley forwards drove towards the try line.
Lennon Curr dummied to pass out wide and skipped around the base of the maul and fed Jack Rodbourne on the charge again. Try!
Ethan Lawrie converted once again.

29 - 21

Salem were not to be counted out.
A penalty from the restart found the ball in the hands of Keighleys main antagonist and the Salem centre
ran practically unopposed through the Keighley team and scored.
Fortunately for Keighley the conversion attempt was pushed wide.

29 - 26

The shock of Salems counter drew a fierce rejoinder from Keighley.
Consistent pressure from both backs and forwards brought about a penalty on the Salem 22m.
Ethan Lawrie calmly slotted the ball between the posts.

32 - 26

Full Time

A mention must be given to the Keighley players who in the spirit of the game pulled on Salem shirts when they found themselves short of men. Well done.