Keighley 1stXV 37 HUDDERSFIELD YMCA 25 - A scintillating performance by wing man Asa Firth paved the way for an important win which hoists Keighley into third place in the league.

The former Bradford & Bingley man ran in four top class tries in a thrilling game in which, it must be said, the quality of the defences never matched up to the imagination and skill of the attacking play.

Huddersfield's cosmopolitan side always looked dangerous with the ball in hand, but apart from a shaky spell early in the second half, Keighley's forwards were able to deny the visitors sufficient possession to prevent terminal damage. The home backs more than matched the opposition in every respect.

Youngsters Rob Clarke and Stewart Inman again impressed up front in a solid performance by the pack, although it was the three quarters who ran in the tries.

The first came after 12 minutes when good work by the forwards provided a half opening for centre Matt Gaffney who fed Firth's well timed angled dash to the line with Johnny Harrison converting.

Huddersfield were soon on equal terms when New Zealander Siale Piatue carved open the Keighley defence with a mazy run allowing Stuart Morton an easy conversion.

By half time, however, Keighley had eased into a possibly flattering 22-point lead. A pick up by No.8 Peter Schofield allowed scrum half Adam Balderstone to supply Firth, who squeezed in at the corner and he then completed his hat-trick when he showed a fine turn of speed and guile to run in from 40 metres. In between, a break by Firth should have brought a try for Gaffney as Keighley shocked the visitors with their adventurous rugby.

Full back Matthew Cox was next to score when he began a move inside his own half and finished it off between the posts after a good run by winger Chris Watts, with Harrison converting. Centre Danny Horne then completed the first half bonanza, finishing off some slick handling by the backs before sadly leaving the action with a leg injury.

The loss early in the second half of co-centre Gaffney inevitably disrupted Keighley's performance and for a time Huddersfield looked the better side. The impressive Piatue ran in his second try and a penalty goal by Morton made a further inroad into Keighley's lead.

The situation looked even more serious when stand off David Rees crossed after a tapped penalty reducing the difference to nine points, but Keighley drew deeply on their resources to claim back the initiative.

Leigh Sugden was hauled down from behind with the scoreline beckoning but Keighley forced a penalty goal by Harrison to calm the nerves.

It was, however, Firth who sealed the issue with his fourth try, somehow touching down in the corner after a cross-field excursion that initially seemed like a dash into a blind tunnel.

A last minute try for Huddersfield forward Kevin Hellawell after a kick and chase added deserved respectability to the visitors performance, but no one could deny the validity of Keighley's win.

Huddersfield YMCA 0

Keighley 2nd XV 48 pts.

Keighley again produced some good rugby to easily defeat Huddersfield on a small slopping pitch.

Keighley were just too strong in the forwards and backs for the opposition.

Playing with the slope and the wind it took Keighley ten minutes to produce their first points scored by Joe McArthur and Richard Cavender kicked the first of his five conversions. The next try soon followed and was one of the best of the afternoon. Tim Midgley took the ball at the top of his reach in a lineout, his quick downward pass to Godfrey was fed to Cavender who slipped a short pass to Phil Hannah who crossed under the posts

Further tires came from Michael Philips, John Currie, Hannah, Tim Midgley andCavender as they made certain of an easy win.