KEIGHLEY have paid a heavy price for failing to fulfil their second-team fixture in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Division One at Carlton.

The visitors needed a minimum of eight players to play the game but only seven arrived after late withdrawals.

Both Keighley's first team and second team have therefore been deducted 20 points and fined £50 under a new league rule, and the club will also have to compensate Carlton for teas made but not eaten.

The first team did fulfil their fixture (ironically at home to Carlton), and the visitors opted to bowl in a game that was reduced to 40 overs per side due to rain.

Keighley soon found themselves in trouble, and Louis Horsfield came to the wicket when two wickets were down for three, adding 51 before skipper Andrew Wear was bowled by Joshua Thurwell for 29.

The latter went on to claim 5-35 off 12 overs, but Jack Beetham scored a valuable 38 as the innings ended on 132, Will Smith claiming 3-15 off eight overs.

Carlton’s reply got off to a decent start but they soon began to lose wickets at regular intervals, with the chief resistance coming from Daniel Ford, who top-scored with 31.

However, Keighley dismissed Carlton for 122 runs in 37.1 overs, with James Rogers picking up 4-28 off 10.1 overs and Matt Haines 3-40 off 12 overs.

Keighley picked up 16 points, but they slipped back to seventh on 152 points due to the 20-point deduction.

The Lawkholme Lane club, who have less than 40 players registered, would, however, like to thank the seven players who did make it to Carlton, unaware of other players dropping out at the last minute.

Keighley seconds are now joint bottom on 75 points (with Idle), but hopefully they can make up ground on third-from-bottom Wrenthorpe (107 points) when Keighley entertain third-placed Ossett on Saturday.

Runaway Championship Division One leaders Hartshead Moor host Keighley's first team on Saturday.