Keighley Albion u-13s 34 West Bowling B u-13s 46

ALBION played their second friendly of the summer holidays with only nine men but only lost narrowly to a West Bowling team who had five additional subs, which proved crucial.

Playing downhill, Albion got off to a flier when slick hands gave Billy Lee the chance to streak clear from 80 yards with Josh Dickerson adding the extras.

However the visitors then posted three converted tries without response with the giant but athletic Louie Jardine to the fore.

Joey Backhouse, on his return from serious injury, did manage to dive over from acting half, with Dickerson converting but Bowling added two more before Laurie Akroyd collected a Lee offload and sprinted clear to add his first try for the club.

With Albion back up to full strength at half-time, they pulled back two quickfire tries. Caleb McConville showed tremendous invention and pace with a chip and regather after a free play before some slick handling allowed Lee to double his tally.

Bowling kept their noses in front and their 100 per cent conversion of their tries but more great offloading allowed Riley Corby to add a superb try double to close the gap to two points despite outscoring the visitors in tries at this stage. However Bowling had the last word with Jardine again proving invaluable with a superb cover tackle on the a flying Lee before adding the second of two late touchdowns to seal victory.

With Albion’s competitive season over, thoughts turn to preparing for next season with four friendlies leading into the beginning of the Yorkshire Cup in November.

* Keighley Albion under-13s are looking to expand their numbers to create two teams. Any boys who will be in school year 9 as of September 1 are welcome to attend training at Marley on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7-8.15pm from Tuesday, August 29.

Experience of rugby league or union would be great but anybody is welcome.