Cleckheaton Thirds 10 Keighley Academy 22

KEIGHLEY Academy halted a run of two straight defeats but, playing up the slope into a biting northerly wind, it looked like it would be a case of damage limitation in the first half.

For the first quarter, Cleckheaton took advantage of the conditions and were almost camped inside the Keighley 20.

Dogged defending kept them out and, on 22 minutes, the visitors were rewarded when a chip kick by Andrew Marklew was cleverly hacked on by Tom Stell, who outpaced the defence to score the first try.

Marklew was again in the thick of the action minutes later, adding a further try from close range.

Just when Keighley looked like they were taking control, a lapse in concentration let Cleckheaton in for a simple try.

With both teams failing to bring their kicking boots, the score stayed at 10-5 but moments later, Cleckheaton were in for a second unconverted try through more poor defending.

With the elements in their favour for the second half, Keighley needed to hit the ground running and were unlucky not to score after a nice break, the ball going through several pairs of hands before finally being put to ground.

Keighley looked the more inventive, being marshalled superbly by Marklew and Neil Jordan.

On 65 minutes, a superb break by Jordan Powell saw him slip an inside ball to Micky Phillips, who scored at the side of the posts.

Keighley's pack were now turning the screw and dominating open play, with man of the match Joe Emmott the pick.

On 72 minutes Marklew split the defence and slipped a neat pass to Powell, who showed power and pace to beat several defenders to go in under the posts.

A Marklew conversion capped victory in a fantastic team effort .