York Acorn u-11s 22 Keighley Albion u-11s 18

MAKING the long trip to York seemed difficult enough with only 13 players due to holidays and player unavailability but Keighley put up a great fight.

They staged a brave fightback after a difficult start and were only thwarted by a try from the final play of the game.

The hosts looked ominous with a great first set and after an Albion error, good handling saw them go in at the corner for the first try.

Albion then made big yards up the field but after bombing a certain score, poor defence from the resulting play the ball saw Acorn’s impressive full back race away to score.

Albion then hit back when, after again failing to take opportunities out wide, Lewis Bloodworth powered over from acting half.

York were the dominant team thereafter and more sweeping back play saw two fantastic finishes for the home team winger who completed his hat-trick.

With a significant half-time deficit Albion could be forgiven for throwing in the towel but started to make early inroads and moved the ball wide for Ben McParland to score out wide.

Keighley's defence and attack, led magnificently by Ethan Brewster, gave them great territory and, with Caleb McConville getting more space, he duly obliged by cutting the home defence to shreds and scoring under the posts, a try which Josh Dickerson converted.

After a number of plays on the Acorn line, which should have resulted in a try, Tyler Moyles offloaded to Bloodworth, who popped it out wide for McConville to dot down again.

Albion could then feel aggrieved when Bloodworth had two efforts brought back, one for apparently being in touch and one for a knock on by Acorn which would have sealed the win.

Even when deep in their own half, the visitors made room to break clear again but the ball went to ground and Acorn punished the error to steal the win at the death.