KEIGHLEY head coach Danny McGee admits their conquerors Bridlington already look nailed on for the Yorkshire Division One title.

The east-coast club defeated his understrength side Keighley 66-17 on Saturday at Dukes Park to make it 12 wins out of 12 for the season.

There may be 14 matches to go but the seasiders stretched their lead at the top to 17 points and McGee accepts the chasing pack's best hopes of promotion is through the runners-up spot.

"I suppose we now want Bridlington to win all of their games and make it a battle for second place and the play-off spot," said McGee.

The Rose Cottagers have now dropped to third, but only four points separate second-placed West Leeds and sixth-placed Scarborough.

West Leeds (40 points), Keighley (39) and York (39) have all played 12 matches, while Old Brodleians (39) and Scarborough (36) have only played 11.

McGee said of last weekend: "We didn't have a full-strength side and were missing influential players in Ben Blackwell and Josh Hannah, but we had a similar side to that which played York at home the previous weekend (which Keighley won 14-5).

"We started well but came up against a very strong side who beat us in most areas, although not by a lot.

"Alex Brown's try just before half-time gave us a glimmer of hope but we struggled in general in the set-piece, and props Matthew Hagyard and Ollie Sugden were not 100 per cent fit.

"We pride ourselves on our defence but their winger (Gary Stevens) went round the outside of us, their No 10 controlled the game and Bridlington controlled the breakdown, and are where we would like to be eventually."

Keighley should have been at home to West Leeds in the league on Saturday, but the visitors are at home to Gateshead instead in the RFU Senior Vase, having been chosen by the Yorkshire RFU to be their representatives in that competition.

West Leeds will now visit Rose Cottage on Saturday, January 21, with Keighley's next league match being at Acklam a week on Saturday.

"At least the weekend off will give some of our injuries a chance to mend," added McGee.