AFTER losing five of their first six matches, one of the stories of the season in SSE Yorkshire Division Two has been the revival of Keighley.

They have won five of their last six games to rise to sixth in the table, and their director of rugby Graeme Sheffield has earmarked the top six as their target with seven matches to go.

However, he added this week: “With the fixtures that we have left at home, fourth place is within our means.”

Keighley are only five points behind fourth-placed Barnsley and have winnable matches at home to Roundhegians on Saturday and Goole on April 18, plus a trip to second-from-bottom Sheffield Medicals a week on Saturday, while they also have the top four to face.

They host West Leeds (currently third) on March 7 and Barnsley on March 28 and travel to West Park Leeds (second) on March 21 and leaders Bradford Salem on April 11.

Sheffield added: “Salem will be difficult but we only lost 12-6 at Barnsley in November after knocking the stuffing out of them.”

One plus for Keighley is that they are virtually at full strength, with the exception of centre Adam Horsfall, who was sent off for retaliation in their 24-10 home victory over Knottingley on January 24.

Sheffield said: “Adam got a five-week ban, which was reduced to four because he pleaded guilty, but their guy who instigated the brawl only got two weeks.

“But it is no good moaning about it – it is the same in league and union in terms of the retaliator getting the longer punishment.”

The unfortunate thing for Keighley is that the pairing of Horsfall and Danny McGee has been one of their strongest areas recently, as has the back row, with Leigh Sugden adding his presence to the second row in a formidable Rose Cottage pack.

Horsfall has already served four weeks and will be available after this weekend.

1st XV v ROUNDHEGIANS (Yorkshire Two) HOME KO 2:15pm, meet 1pm. A Brown; Ja Atkinson, A Ebbrell, D McGee, L Carter; R Wilkinson, D Needham, C Spencer, W Armitage, D Smith, M Hagyard, L Sugden, T Lowther, S Minikin, J Hannah. Rep: L Everett, D Iliff, S Booker.