Wetherby 31 Keighley 0

DEPLETED Keighley made a disappointing start to the season as they failed to register a point in their Yorkshire Shield second-round clash.

It was a typical early-season game with a great deal of endeavour and plenty of mistakes.

The first half was dominated by the visitors, whose forwards started well, with Sean Everett providing plenty of ball at the lineout and good retention at the breakdown.

Wetherby – who won Yorkshire Three last season and are now unbeaten in 54 matches – were under severe pressure. However, too many simple handling errors allowed their big forwards to impose themselves at the scrum.

Keighley’s main threat was straight-running centre Adam Horsfall but too often he lacked close support, which made it easy for a well-organised defence. Against the run of play, Wetherby made a rare foray into the Keighley half and gained a penalty for a breakdown offence, centre Danny Warden landing the points.

The second half was proof that in any sport confidence plays a large part in the proceedings. The Wetherby forwards, having absorbed Keighley’s best shots, were confident they could dominate up front.

Taking the direct approach, they drove up field and set about Keighley’s main weakness in the scrum. After a series of scrum offences on Keighley’s five-metre line, the referee rightly-awarded a penalty try, which Warden converted.

The Rose Cottage side withdrew into their shell, the forwards over-committed to the breakdown and had little idea of how to support each other in the contact area.

What possession they obtained was slow and as a result the back line were under pressure, causing basic errors and a breakaway try for a Wetherby winger. With their tails up, the hosts moved the ball wide and easily outstripped a poorly-organised defence, giving wing forward Liam Hogan an easy run-in, Warden once again adding the extras.

Wetherby repeated the treatment in the dying minutes when substitute back Alex Das was able to finish off a move to score. Warden, who had a great game with the boot, converted.

Having won promotion last season, Keighley start their Yorkshire One campaign on Saturday at Yarnbury.