Ilkley Development 19 Keighley Academy 20

KEIGHLEY Academy returned to action following the previous week's mauling at home by Ossett II with instructions to play with real heart and not let each other down.

They did both in style, producing a battling performance against a side who won't lose many this season.

Keighley opened the scoring with a storming try from the returning Ian Buckley which was converted by Mark Beckett, who was playing his first game for a few years.

Ilkley lost a back rower for ten minutes after a tip tackle on skipper Lloyd was deemed yellow rather than red. Keighley nudged three more points in front with a well-struck penalty by Beckett before half-time.

But the visitors were caught asleep after the restart and Ilkley readily accepted five easy points.

Tireless scrum half James Tillotson was magnificent but Ilkley would not give in, their left winger latching on to a deft chip for a converted try to give the home side a 12-10 lead.

Sustained Keighley pressure, with some old-fashioned scrum drives, resulted with Buckley crossing for a much-deserved second try.

Ilkley hit back with a score in the corner. While the Keighley players licked their wounds, there was confusion as the Ilkley number ten was red-carded, only to be reinstated after intervention from Keighley skipper Lloyd, who informed the ref he had misheard the fly half.

Rubbing salt into the wounds, the rightly-returned number ten converted from the touchline.

However, a storming break by Beckett saw him unselfishly pass to Cooley to score out wide and seal victory for Keighley.