KEIGHLEY are hanging on to top spot in Yorkshire Two on points difference only, after losing 22-6 at title rivals Wetherby on Saturday.

What should have been a titanic struggle between the two league leaders turned out to be a poor game.

It was a tough day at the office for Keighley, who under performed and were outmuscled and outplayed by sprightly Wetherby.

Although the visitors started well enough, they were put under extreme pressure at the first scrum.

From that point onwards, they were trapped in their own half for long periods.

The pressure eventually told, when second row Will Palombo pounced on a loose ball to score in the corner.

Keighley defended well and worked hard to get back into the game and a neat kick and chase by full back Alfie Seeley almost brought a score.

But Wetherby, with a good line out and dominant scrums, were gaining the majority of possession and territory.

More often than not, they used their strong forwards to full advantage with well supported drives that gained the hard yards.

The game plan worked a treat, when quick possession on the front foot was moved wide to the left for a try for outside half Harry Kaye, converted by scrum half Jarrod Dixon.

Keighley, with Tom Whyte and Jake Parkinson leading the charge, did their best and a rare period of pressure gained a penalty for Alex Brown to reduce the deficit.

The second half was a very scrappy affair, with little continuity, which suited the bigger Wetherby pack.

Keighley tried at every opportunity to break the stranglehold and move slow ball wide.

Unfortunately for them, they were met by a solid wall of defenders before they could make serious inroads.

With front row forwards Sam Booker and Declan Hampson eventually making ground, Keighley gained good field position and a further penalty for Alex Brown closed the gap further.

Keighley did their best to chase the game but perhaps they tried too hard, as there were far too many basic errors that gifted Wetherby even more possession, including a succesful penalty for the home side's Kaye.

An innocuous Wetherby forward drive in midfield broke through a number of tackles, before the ball went out to the backs.

A quick pass to the winger Aidy Connelly saw him run through two poor tackles to score near the posts, with outside half Kaye adding the conversion.

Keighley worked hard to the final whistle, but they were very much second best and there was no doubt that Wetherby thoroughly deserved their victory.

More often than not in rugby union, the forwards decide who wins the game, and the backs decide the margin of victory and that was very true for this one-sided match.

Keighley are still in a good position as they seek promotion back to Yorkshire One, but have now been joined at the summit on 101 points by Wetherby, with two games of the season left.