Pontefract 17, Keighley 20

Keighley narrowed the gap between themselves and SSE Yorkshire Division One relegation rivals Pontefract to seven points with a hard-fought victory in testing conditions.

They dominated the first half without taking full advantage of their opportunities and led 10-0 at the break after a penalty goal by Alex Brown and a try by second-rower James Walker, converted by Brown.

A try by flanker Shaun Minikin, again converted by Brown, early in the second half put Keighley seemingly in total control but Pontefract struck back with a try by wingman Richard Dedicoat before Brown replied with a well-taken penalty goal.

Home half-back Richard Bacon’s try for Pontefract seemed more of an inconvenience than a threat to Keighley but a fine try by fly half Craig Fawcett, converted by Dedicoat, suddenly changed the pattern of the game.

Pontefract sensed victory and threatened the Keighley line, but the defence held out, despite the loss of prop Craig Spencer to the sin bin for the final eight minutes of play.