KEIGHLEY RUFC have pulled out of the Yorkshire Shield.

At the end of a long season which saw them agonisingly miss out on promotion from Yorkshire One, it is perhaps no surprise that they have gifted scheduled semi-final opponents Baildon a walkover victory.

What that does is set up a fascinating Bradford derby in the final on Sunday, May 14 at Castle Park in Doncaster.

Baildon, whose excellent season almost ended in promotion from Yorkshire Two, will be taking on Bradford Salem, who finished with a flourish in Yorkshire One to come sixth.

Salem would normally be favourites, but with the shock departure of Neil Spence and Glenn Morrison announced last month, it remains to be seen how that affects the pair's final game in charge.