Keighley Albion 19, London Skolars 20

After a stunning performance against this strong London outfit it was hard to imagine that Albion are struggling at the foot of the National Conference League.

Although they collected another defeat, the strength of their performance must put some confidence in the side for the coming New Year.

Ryshworth playing fields saw some fast open rugby which was a superb advert for the Conference League. The London side finished bottom of the table last year, but are currently riding high in fourth place and must have been optimistic about picking up another two points, but the Keighley outfit had other ideas.

The Skolars drew first blood with an early try, but Albion came back through lively hooker Dean Brooks and a Mark Ives penalty put the home side ahead.

A further touchdown saw the Skolars take a half time lead. Albion started the second half in great style with their forwards punching holes in the London defence with half back pair paul Moses and Johnny Williams at the heart of the attacks.

Second row Craig Livock put albion in the lead, running in off a cracking short pass from Moses, the impressive Ives adding the conversion.

Albion kept up the pressure when Ian Spencer was rewarded for his tireless efforts, bursting over for a try, Dean Brooks kicking a superb conversion to put Albion 18-8 in front.

The Skolars came back to cross again while Albion worked hard up the Ryshworth slope with Mathew Horne, Gary Boocock, Wayne smith and rob Haughey all making telling runs.

When man of the match Moses chipped over a drop goal an upset looked on the cards, but London again came back to set up a grandstand finish. Albion's hearts were broken when Skolars crossed to take a one point lead with just three minutes to go.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Albion entertain York Acorn at Crossflatts, ko 2pm.

Worth Village 12

Queensbury 32

Village turned in another promising display, but got no reward for their effort.

Fielding a XIII different from the previous week, the side's rebuilding continues, and for the first hour they were in with a shout of recording a shock result.

Skipper and man of the match Daz Lynam led superbly from the front, but two early 'bury scores rocked the Village side.

Half back pairing of of Rocky McNulty and Richard Shaw, who are starting to look the part, began to link with the hard working props Andy Higgins and Damien Summerscales.

Shaw sent Higgins on a break and after being held short of the line, a quick play the ball saw Summerscales dart over. Lynam added the goal.

Another Bury try saw them take a 6-16 lead, but Village came out firing on all cylinders. Wayne McCombe and strong running centre Olly Birkett both went close before another Queensbury score.

Even when 22-6 down Village would not give in and a second try scored by McNulty and goaled by Lynam set up a stunning last 20 minutes.

Inexperience out wide saw Bury score two late tries for a final score of 12-32.

With Lynam hitting peak form, backed up by the experience of Higgins, Summerscales and McCombe, the youngsters in the club are starting to believe in themselves and are growing in confidence.

Tomorrow they entertain Elland at Marley, ko 2pm.

Boothtown Terriers 20 Silsden Park Rangers 26

A fine first half display proved just enough to give Rangers the two league points, despite losing their way in the second period. A sparkling opening 40 minutes saw Rangers run in five tries and establish a 26-10 interval lead, but Boothtown fought back strongly to run in ten unanswered points, and leave Silsden hanging on in the closing stages.

Seventeen year old scrum half Andy Bowness was Silsden's Man of the Match with an outstanding all round show, capped by his first try for the club, and there were top notch performances too from centre Phil Lane, prop Jim Coldwell , and recalled full back Jim Owens.

Boothtown took 6-0 lead, against the run of play, but within a minute Captain Neil Jordan put Rangers back on level terms, with a breathtaking try. Breaking the defence on his own 20 metre line, the strong running loose forward stepped inside the full back and showed terrific pace in a sprint to the posts. Mark Adams converted, and then created Silsden's next score. A punishing run by the big second row sucked in the defence, and his astute pass sent Bowness scampering in for a hugely popular try, which Adams himself improved.

The Terriers caught Silsden napping on the blind side to squeeze over and cut the deficit to 12-10, before Pat Illingworth stamped his authority on the match. First, the influential stand-off ghosted through for a brilliant solo try direct from a scrum, then, after Dave Arnold has produced a trademark try from dummy half, a planned move worked to perfection, as a sweetly timed Illingworth pass sent Jordan sailing in again.

At 26-10 the game looked safe, but Boothtown dominated the second half when the Cobbydalers lost the plot. Two well-crafted home tries put the game back in the melting pot, but a big defensive effort, led by Coldwell and Jordan and with Lane, Adams and Paul Sinfield also prominent, was enough to see Rangers through.

On Saturday Silsden face a promotion crunch match away to Todmorden (kick off 2.00 pm), in their last fixture of 1998.

Calder Valley 82

Keighley Celtic 3

Celtic crashed out of the Halifax Cup on the wrong end of a pwerful display from first division side Calder Valley.

Celtic started well enough and competed with the big Calder pack for nearly an hour, but a nightmare 10 minute period each side of half time saw Celtic concede six tries, and the game had gone.

The Keighley side could find no anser to Calder Valley's pace and power, but to their credit never gave in. Their points came from a Chris Brookes penalty and a towering Neil Kennedy drop goal.

Neil Albone topped the tackle count on his return to first team duty with Dale Barlow also working hard.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.