KEIGHLEY made it three wins out of four this year on Saturday, and head coach Kevin Young was in no doubt as to why they have doubled their tally of SSE Yorkshire Division Two league victories this season.

He said in the wake of the 24-10 home victory over Knottingley: "It is down to the hard work that we have been doing in training over the last few months."

However, he had some sympathy for centre Adam Horsfall, who was sent off in the 19th minute, along with Knottingley centre Louis Gates, by referee Richard Arthur.

Young explained: "Our prop Dave Smith was pulling off their centre who was grappling with Leigh Sugden, and their player hit Dave, busting his lip, loosening a tooth and cutting his mouth.

"The referee was playing on and 'Giddy' (Adam) saw Dave being hit and basically ran in and tackled their centre.

"Adam didn't throw a punch, so I think he was a bit unlucky."

Training apart, Young also reckons Keighley have benefited from a settled line-up, and said: "Flanker Elliot Barker has scored three tries in as many matches and has only just turned 18, Dave Smith is learning all the time at prop having switched from rugby league, we have needed a scrum half and Dave Needham is going well there, and Mathew Hagyard is learning all the time in the second row."

Barker is absent with a shoulder injury that he picked up early doors against Knottingley, so Tom Lowther, who replaced him, will start for what will be a difficult home game against Old Rishworthians on Saturday.