Rugby Unionrs: A team suffer one-point agony

In an impressive start, Keighley ran in three sparkling first half tries before the stronger Home pack slogged its way to a deserved success.

To a large degree Keighley were the authors of their own misfortune, conceding a rash of penalties which enabled Skipton to maintain the initiative throughout a one sided second half.

A penalty goal by full back Peter Shearer opened the scoring for Skipton, but Keighley soon pulled ahead when wingman Nick Wright combined with stand off Ian Simmons to cross for a well worked try.

Keighley's backs had the edge in pace and ideas and centre Richard Emmott was on hand to finish off another sharp move with full back Gary Davey converting.

Shearer and Davey were each successful with penalty goals before Keighley's lead was extended when skipper Jeff Inman made light of his advancing years with a touchline dash to the corner.

At this stage Keighley appeared to be sitting pretty, with a deserved 14 point lead but gradually the Skipton spirit began to emerge. Their forwards were superior in the set pieces and they were more positive in the rucks and mauls.

Centre Matthew Wilson wove through a lax Keighley defence for a moral boosting try which had its origins in yet another Keighley penalty infringement, with Shearer converting, but a sharp drop goal by Ian Simmons just before the break was a welcome boost for the nervous Keighley side.

Simmons' kick proved to be Keighley's last success. A second half penalty goal by Shearer pegged back the lead as Keighley's backs were starved of possession by the increasingly dominant Skipton pack.

Sustained pressure brought a try to hooker David Hutton, reducing the lead to two points.

Keighley continued to fall foul of referee Mike Townson and a final indiscretion allowed Shearer to coolly see a jubilant Skipton side through to the next round with a 30 metre penalty goal.