Heath 21, Keighley 32

A fine hat-trick of tries by flanker Scott Dyson was a major contribution to Keighley’s excellent win over nearest league rivals Heath yesterday in SSE Yorkshire Division One.

The early indications were ominous as Keighley consistently fell foul of the referee’s whistle.

Home full back Ben Mitchell took advantage with a penalty goal after five minutes but good work by wingman Adam Horsfall pressurised the home defence into conceding a penalty soon afterwards, allowing Alex Brown to equalise the scores.

Mitchell re-established Heath’s lead with another penalty goal but Keighley, while struggling for possession in the set-pieces, began to look increasingly dangerous in their limited chances to attack.

Dyson. Horsfall and centre Marco Ferrazzano in turn tested the defence before a lovely slipped pass by hooker Will Armitage provided the opening for centre Danny Price to touch down, with Brown converting.

Keighley’s lead was short-lived, Mitchell edging his side ahead with his third penalty goal.

Home centre Karl Craven’s departure to the sin bin for a technical offence then signalled a Keighley revival.

Within the space of five minutes, the profile of the game altered as Dyson powered over for two excellent tries, a Brown conversion giving the visitors a 20-9 at half-time.

Early in the second half, Dyson grabbed his third try when the defence was opened up by a neat dummy and blind-side break by scrum half Lucas Uren, Brown again converting from wide out.

This was soon followed by Keighley’s fifth try when wingman Sam Walker snapped up a loose ball close to the halfway line and outpaced the defence for another fine try.

With a lead of 32-9, the contest seemed to be over. Keighley relaxed, firstly allowing home centre Matthew Hallett to weave his way across the line with Mitchell converting, before scrappy defence allowed flanker David Montgomery to touch down to add respectability to Heath’s efforts.