KEIGHLEY have ten league matches and a second-round Yorkshire Shield tie at Middlesbrough to fit in over an 11-week period before the end of the season – and that is discounting Easter Saturday (March 26).

But, despite seven of those league matches being away from home, the mood at Rose Cottage is very relaxed as they strive for promotion from Yorkshire Division Two, with head coach Danny McGee saying: "As Hamish Pratt puts it, we are enjoying the journey."

Second-placed Keighley have only played 16 league matches – the least of anybody in the division (Moortown, Roundhegians, Sheffield Medicals and Barnsley have all played 19) following their home postponement last weekend against Knottingley.

However, McGee admitted: "It is not ideal as the lads just want to keep on playing but it is not a worry, and we can always extend the season if we need to."

Waterlogging caused last Saturday's match to be called off at Rose Cottage, with McGee adding: "The referee came down to inspect the first-team pitch at 10.30am and said that even if it didn't rain and the sun came out, the pitch would still not be fit – indeed none of our three pitches were fit."

Knottingley's visit has been provisionally re-arranged for Saturday, April 30, while confirmed are the matches at Wath (this Saturday), Ripon (March 12), Old Grovians (March 19), Old Rishworthians (April 2), Pontefract (April 9), Roundhegians (April 16) and West Leeds (April 23) and the home games against Pontefract (February 27) and Castleford (March 5).

Despite having played the least number of games alongside Old Rishworthians, Keighley only trail leaders West Leeds by nine points with two games in hand, and are nine points in front of fourth-placed Pontefract, who have a game in hand and seem the main dangers to Keighley getting promoted.

McGee knows that he owes a debt of gratitude to player-coach Pratt, saying: "Hamish works for the RFU, has been involved in coaching for a lot longer than me and has been a big help to me in my first season as a head coach.

"He is involved with not only myself but also Scott Dyson, Russell Gibson and Micky Feather, and is also a different voice in the changing room, has stripped things back to basics and has helped us a lot with our set-piece.

"I don't know how much Hamish was expecting to play this season but he has played a lot and really seems to be enjoying himself."