Keighley 14 West Bowling 19

Keighley’s 16-game unbeaten league run was finally ended as title rivals West Bowling closed the gap at the top to two points.

The top two produced an entertaining encounter for a large crowd at Rose Cottage, with the game in the balance until late on.

And the visitors – who have a game in hand on Keighley – took the spoils to inflict a first league defeat of the season on the hosts.

Playing with the slope, the home side scored first, with Danny Barrett crossing from close range after some good lead-up play.

Jamie Stephenson almost put winger Paul Bradwell in at the corner but a hand from a Bowling winger just got in the way. From the scrum, Keighley kept the pressure on and, when Bowling gave away a penalty, a strong drive from Danny Snowden gave Barrett the opportunity to dart over, Callum Hudson adding the extras.

From the restart, Keighley should have worked the ball through the six tackles to finish with a long kick but lost the ball in good field position for the visitors.

Bowling took advantage to score on the right and make it 6-6 after ten minutes.

Keighley had the chance to regain the lead as Stephenson again tried to put Bradwell in at the corner when he should have dummied and gone on his own. Again, the Bowling left winger got his hand in the way.

Poor discipline from Keighley kept giving the visitors penalties so they could kick for better field position.

But the home outfit edged ahead by way of a penalty from Hudson after Bowling had been caught offside on 30 minutes.

Keighley should have seen out the first period in West’s half but conceded silly penalties that saw the visitors march back up field. This took its toll when Bowling took an 10-8 lead just before the break after some rare poor defensive line work from the hosts.

Keighley made some good yards after the interval but could not break the Bowling line and poor discipline cost them again.

The visitors crossed the line with a carbon copy of their last try, aided again by some poor defensive reading from the home side.

Trailing 16-8, Keighley were not used to being behind on their own patch and yet another penalty saw Bowling extend their advantage.

A couple of infringements from Bowling gave Keith Dixon’s side the chance to cross the line out wide through centre Joe Copper-waite. Hudson converted from the touchline to make it 18-14.

Keighley crossed the line again in the second half through Stephenson but it was ruled out for a double movement.

With the visitors looking tired and with time on their side, they kicked a drop goal to make it 19-14 with only five minutes to go.

Keighley had one last chance when Bowling lost possession on the second tackle but the hosts dropped the ball late in the tackle count.

Keighley battled all the way but it was the penalty count that was their downfall. With five games remaining (three at home), they will need to play a lot smarter if they are to clinch the title.

Keighley are at New Earswick in York on Saturday.