Otley Saracens 48

Keighley 2nd XV 7 - Keighley went to Otley expecting a tough and challenging match against their 3rd team; this was to be their third encounter of the season.

The game was tougher than they expected, as the Otley second string was sprinkled with first team players coming back from injury after their game against Blaydon was cancelled when the Northumberland team deciding they did not have a strong enough team to challenge Otley.

As the game was deemed a 'friendly' the Otley coach asked if they could give at least twenty one players a run out. One of the Keighley players quipped that they appeared to have more players on their bench than Keighley had on the field.

If Otley thought Keighley were just cannon fodder they were in for rude awakening. Although it was soon clear that the Otley were a well-drilled professional side, Keighley were putting in some telling tackles. It was 20 minutes before Otley's backs broke through the Keighley defence with Rivett scoring a try in the corner.

Only a few seasons ago he had scored three tries for the Leeds Rhinos in Challenge Cup final.

Otley were soon on the attack again, and just as it looked as if they would score another try Warren Knowles intercepted the stand off's long pass and ran sixty yards to score under the posts. Cavender added the two extra points.

In the last ten minutes of the half Otley added two converted tries.

The opening period of the second half was a desperate time for Keighley as Otley ran in four more tries. Keighley had to borrow one of the many Otley subs after their fullback had to leave to get to work by four o'clock. This cameo highlighted the difference between the two sides.

Mark Lister rallied his young troops and they tackled their hearts out. Whenever they won ball Cavender kicked deep and to stop any more attacks. Centres Towler and Hannah were battered and bruised from the constant runs by the Otley backrow. The front row of Griffin, Sugden and Kenrick battled all eighty minutes, and Clark and Smalley were magnificent in the second row. Smalley putting in some hard tackles which drove the Otley would be runners backwards.

With ten minutes to go Otley scored their last try. Keighley never stopped trying to get a final score, and when Knowles picked up a loose ball with 25 yards to go he was called back by the referee only to award Keighley a scrum.

Keighley's younger players experienced taking on First Division opponents and, hopefully, they will realise they are capable of playing to a much higher standard.