Keighley Secure Yorkshire Plate Semi Final Place

Keighley hosted Cleckheaton who had previously comprehensively beaten Keighley earlier in the season, however Keighley were looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

Due to illness Keighley fielded a reshaped Front Row with Henry Pratt bravely volunteering to play Hooker and Kaleb Shaw moving out to Prop.

On a blustery day both team competed for possession with conditions making handling difficult and despite both side attacking well stern defence saw the sides turn around at half time without any scores on the board.

Keighley took the initiative in the second half with the forwards showing determination to win the ball and release Louis Holmes, Bill Todd and Kaleb Shaw to run at the opposition before releasing the backs through Joe Haddani and Matty Storton where Ryan Vero and Cameron Bealy Kay moved it wide to the wingers Liam King and Billy Cubitt.

The breakthrough came after six minutes when Billy Todd broke a tackle to run clear and despite Cleckheaton’s best efforts he was too strong and ran in Keighley’s first try.

Cleckheaton quickly responded and matched Keighley’s unconverted try two minutes later.

Keighey now had to dig deep as Henry Pratt had to leave the field injured with Elliott Rothery moving to Hooker the forwards responded well with Joe Emmott and McKenzie Kirkland working had to win the ball and making charging runs at Cleckheaton. The back row supported well and Louis Holmes used his pace and deceptive running to out play the opposition. Keighley continued to move the ball wide and use Vero and Bealey Kay to punch holes through Cleckheton’s resolute defence.

Todd scavenged ball at a ruck to barge over for his second unconverted try.

Keighley were now dominating the play, but the conditions resulted in several handling errors from both sides. Cleckheaton fumbled a ball and Keighey kicked it downfield where Joe Emmott stripped the Cleckheaton player of the ball to release Ryan Vero for a well deserved try which was converted to create a 17-10 lead with ten minutes to go.

Cleckheaton showed great character and attacked whenever possible, with Keighley unable to close off the game and Kyle Watson leaving the field with an ankle injury. Time and again Keighley defended close to their line before Cleckheaton scored close to the posts in he last minute.

The game had one more twist of fate with Keighley charging down the conversation to deny Cleckheaton a draw and see Keighley rewarded for all their hard work in training in recent months by securing a semi-final place in the Yorkshire Plate.