Keighley U12s at the Keighley Festival

Flying the flag for the club were the oldest age group, the under 12s, who were determined to showcase their abilities on the 1st team pitch in front of a packed crowd

Their pool matches saw them play Cleckheaton, Aireborough and Bradford & Bingley. Although each side gave a strong test, none were to breech the Keighley defence as they won the group convincingly, winning 21-0, 7-0 and 28-0. A brace of tries each from Harvey Kemp, Robbie Payne and Samuel Grant were added to by Jacob Rankin and Ellie Kildunne as well structured attacks led to first possession then territory for the team to build upon in order to score. Ryan Gibson chipped in with a 100% conversion rate to bolster the scores. All that was asked of them they completed – and more. Ferocious tackling, determined rucking and clean set pieces won ball time and time again which gave the chance to pass the ball along the line which they did with ease. This was particularly impressive considering the weather conditions where rain, wind and even snow threatened to turn the games into little more than a test of strength.

Winning the group saw the team face Huddersfield in the semi-final. This was a team with a point to prove having been beaten twice already this season by Keighley. Huddersfield proved to be a very different proposition to all that had gone before showing resilience and fine technique as they counter rucked, counter attacked and resisted the numerous Keighley attacks. An interception try by Ryan Gibson, which he added to with his conversion, saw the hosts lead 7-0 at half time. Twice the hosts were denied at the line through fumbling when touching down and this gave Huddersfield the chance to break back with an opportunist score in the corner as cold hands threatened to scupper the Keighley momentum. The missed conversion proved vital, however, as the final score of 7-5 gave the chance to test themselves in the final.

And what a final! Playing Wilmslow, visitors from Cheshire with an impeccable record and with no tries against them, Keighley faced the biggest team in terms of size that they could possibly face short of the All Blacks! The team were simply not fazed by anything, however. For all that Wilmslow threw at them, Keighley simply held their ground and drove them back. The tackling displayed was ferocious to say the least as the hosts refused to give. Little by little the power and determination displayed began to frustrate the visitors as they showed that they had little range of attacking options. The ball was held up on the line three times as the defence was resolute and began to force Wilmslow into errors.

Keighley drove hard and tried desperately to get up the pitch, at times using a clever kicking game to do so, but the bulk of their visitors eventually proved too much as they conceded. Both tries came from tight, short drives at the fringes giving a final score of 0-14.

Finishing runners up was far from a disgrace as the rapturous applause proved when the team returned to the changing rooms. They played like a first team and were received like first team. Their glory will come – sooner rather than later.