Keighley 38 New Earswick All Blacks 0

On a horrible day for playing rugby, Keighley kept their unbeaten Pennine League Championship Division run going against spirited visitors from York.

Playing up the slope in the first half, the hosts started the better of the two sides but could not cross the line.

This was down to some sloppy passing and dropped balls due to the bad weather.

Despite the final scoreline, it took until the 15th minute before a point was scored, Rick Leatham crossing by the side of the posts off a neat grubber kick from Call-um Hudson on the last tackle.

This made Kris Gott’s conversion easy, and from the restart Keighley marched upfield, Joe Copperwaite making a break.

But on the resulting play the ball, Keighley lost possession and were penalised for holding down.

This led to Mark Smith being sent to the sin bin by an overkeen referee, but from the kick to touch Keighley regained the ball, and on the following set Gott crossed on the fifth tackle from 40 metres out, beating New Earswick’s centre and winger.

He went over under the sticks and added the goal to give Keigh-ley a 12-0 interval lead.

The second half was pretty much one-way traffic in favour of the home side.

Going down the slope, it took Keighley just two minutes to get the scoreboard moving with a try from Smith, and this was followed soon after by Copperwaite crossing, both kicks at goal being missed.

New Earswick tried their best to get out of their half but the home side’s defence was too strong, making the visitors kick their way forward.

From one such kick, Gott returned the ball from 60 metres out on the left touchline and crossed the line ten metres in from the right touchline, Hudson adding the two points.

On 60 minutes, Daz Lynham got hold of the ball ten metres out after a runaround with Danny Barrett, but Lynham dummied and crossed the line himself.

The last try came from man of the match Paul Bradwell, who ran a great line to cross from 20 metres out, Hudson adding the extras to the last two tries.

The weather meant this was never going to be a open game but both sides tried their best in the conditions.

On Saturday, Keighley travel to York for the return fixture (2.30pm), expecting a much tough-er game.