A GOOD tester for Keighley saw them earn their sixth win from seven this season in Counties One Yorkshire, as they won 22-8 at Beverley.

With two first team players unavailable and against strong opposition, Keighley knew they would be facing a tricky task.

But the two replacement players, Lucas Uren and Andy Hayes, played superbly in a great team effort that produced an impressive victory.

The first half was a tense affair, with an early kicking duel that gave the back three from both teams the opportunity to test out defences.

Early Keighley pressure was rewarded with a penalty for Alex Brown, but this was quickly cancelled out by a well-taken penalty from Beverley captain Rob Smith.

There were a couple of notable line breaks which could have led to tries but the final execution, together with a resolute defence, kept the score at 3-3.

As the half progressed, the Keighley forwards began to get on top of the opposition, with Sam Booker and second row Ed Keighley making good ground.

Close support from their team-mates produced quick ball for the backs to spread it wide, forcing the opposition to move around and defend.

After being camped on the Beverley try line for a full five minutes, in-form Keighley prop Craig Spencer crashed over to score, Brown adding the conversion on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half, Beverley tried to rally, but the visitors had other ideas.

Keighley moved up a gear, their work became sharper, and with the half-back pairing of Leon Hobson-Sheriff and Brown calling the shots, a gap soon appeared in the line.

A slick half break, followed by a couple of offloads, led to a try out wide for Uren, which was well-converted by Brown.

With the front five forwards playing some fine rugby, the back-row and backs were given a free hand to attack, which forced play into the Beverley half.

Some excellent steals in the lineout kept Keighley on the front foot and forced Beverley to defend for long periods of time.

This sapped their strength and eventually they succumbed to a lineout maul and a try for powerful prop Booker.

A spirited Beverley stuck to their task and, capitalising on a loose ball, centre James Graham broke through before offloading to a speedy James Boardman.

He unselfishly gave a try-scoring pass to winger Luke Hazell for a deserved consolation score.

With Bradford District rivals Bradford Salem earning a surprise 25-10 home win over high-flying Hullensians, this away victory for Keighley lifts them up to second behind Goole.

Keighley host eighth-placed Salem this weekend, and can go top if they win and Goole lose at fourth-placed Huddersfield Laund Hill.