Knottingley 25 Keighley 5

KEIGHLEY started this SSE Yorkshire Division Two match well, with their forwards very positive in the loose and fly half Nigel Curr putting them in good field positions with long-range kicks.

A well-structured attack down the right put the hosts under pressure and quick ball from a ruck and some smart handling from captain Craig Spencer gave winger Luke Carter the smallest of gaps for a well-taken try in the corner.

Knottingley responded, using their big forwards to full advantage. They mounted a concerted series of attacks, which eventually led to a line-out on the Keighley five-metre line. Unfortunately the ball was overthrown into the grateful hands of forward Dave Wagstaff, who strolled over for the easiest try he will ever score.

Further pressure was absorbed by a solid Keighley defence but near the half-time whistle some basic errors led to a scrum and a series of rucks.

With the defence tied in, good back play gave Knottingley's livewire centre James Mattin a try wide out.

The second half was fiercely contested. Knottingley were intent on bossing the game up front but the Keighley back row of Tom Lowther, Shaun Minikin and Josh Hannah steadied the ship.

There were some promising attacks from Keighley, instigated by Hannah and Adam Horsfall, but Knottingley wisely did not commit all their forwards to the majority of breakdowns and this strategy meant that they always had numbers in defence, which managed to snuff out any scoring opportunities.

There were a number of stoppages through injury midway through the half, which broke up the continuity of the game and led to something of a stalemate.

But when Keighley's half-back pairing were forced to leave the field with leg injuries, the writing was on the wall.

Although the visitors defended well, they were exposed wide out which, near the end of the game, led to a penalty from scrum half Paul Rockett and well-worked tries from wing forwards Ryan Bugg and Dale Ferguson, one of which was converted by Rockett.

On Saturday, a number of experienced players return to the scene for the home fixture against Leeds Medics & Dentists.

Although they have lost their first two games, Keighley are in good spirits and are reasonably confident that they can improve as the season progresses.