Yorkshire Two: Keighley 24 Pontefract 7

KEIGHLEY took another big step towards promotion as they saw off their fourth-placed rivals in completing their 17th league win on the bounce.

Victory put 13 points between the sides, with the second-placed Rose Cottagers having a game in hand on Pontefract and leaders West Leeds, whom they trail by just five.

Keighley started really well with an early penalty for outside half Alex Brown. Pontefract responded with a series of swift attacks through their backs.

With the visitors' full back joining the line at every opportunity, the home defence was at full stretch but contained the initial pressure.

However, Keighley's positive play broke down through poor basic skills and random aimless kicking, which more often than not found the Pontefract full back. He mounted yet another attack in the wide open spaces and the hosts succumbed, giving centre Craig Fawcett an easy run-in through a stretched defence to score under the posts. Outside half Glen Boyd kicked the conversion.

The Pontefract pack provided good ball for their three quarters to launch waves of slick attacks. Although Keighley conceded territory and were still too prone to kicking possession away, they somehow hung on until half-time.

The second half was a totally different story. Keighley wisely changed their game plan, deciding to hold on to possession and challenge through the more direct route, using their fit, strong forwards, with player coach Hamish Pratt and captain Will Armitage leading the way.

Starved of possession and put under pressure, Pontefract looked a different team. Forced to slow down the ball at the contact area, they coughed up a series of penalties, two of which Alex Brown converted. With their noses in front, Keighley turned the screw, trapping the visitors in their 22 for extended periods.

The pressure was rewarded when big centre Ben Blackwell broke away down the right. Pulling in defenders, he slipped the ball to prop Craig Spencer, who sold an outrageous dummy before touching down for Brown to convert.

Keighley scrum half Lucas Uren, with a good forward platform, had the time and space to cleverly change the point of attack, causing Pontefract to hastily shuffle their defensive line-up which the hosts exploited to the full.

Centre Adam Horsfall, with the forwards in close support, drove to the line but was stripped of the ball by a defender. However, he charged down the clearing kick to score in the corner.

Although Pontefract were always going to be dangerous with ball in hand, they were starved of possession and kept pinned deep in their half, forcing them to attack from deep or kick.

Either way, Keighley retained possession in top gear.

The game was finished off when No 8 Hamish Pratt capped a fine individual performance with a try wide out.