Morpeth 30 Keighley 14

A much-depleted Keighley battled hard but, without four first-choice forwards, it was always going to be difficult to cope with Morpeth’s pack- orientated game.

Yet the visitors took the lead when a backs move, initiated by full back Harry Titley, was finished with a run to the line for hooker Will Armitage, Alex Brown converting.

Morpeth hit back when a driving maul was finished off by burly second row Joe Forsyth and, within ten minutes, he was over again.

Although Keighley gained a fair share of possession, it was always on the back foot which made it easy for the Morpeth defence. The hosts had the last word of the half when winger Carl Parkinson scooted around the Keighley defence to score in the corner.

The visitors managed several promising attacks through centres Marco Ferrazzano and Ben Blackwell. However, behind a beaten pack it was difficult.

Yet another driving maul gave hooker Carl Hill the opportunity to score wide out. Keighley threw everything they had into chasing the game but an interception try for centre Ben Hornby, converted by James Phillips, left them up against it.

Keighley responded with a well-taken try from prop Craig Spencer and a conversion from Brown before Phillips ended the scoring with a penalty.