Halifax Vandals 1st XV 35

Keighley 2nd XV 14

Keighley's young guns were battered by Halifax's heavy artillery.

Keighley had a very much changed side due to holidays and three of their regular players going off to play rugby in South Africa for the next six months. The team contained seven of the colts' side, with six playing in the pack. The young boys played out of their skins but were no match for the Halifax side who had too much weight and sly tricks for them to overcome.

Halifax went ahead with a penalty under the posts. They soon added a try when one of their strong running centres burst through some ineffectual tackling to score under the posts. The conversion was easily added.

At this stage the young pack was still full of running, and from a maul Michael Race broke away down the blindside to score in the left-hand corner. Ben Woodwiss converted with an excellent kick.

Halifax had soon cancelled this score with an unconverted try but Woodwiss put Keighley back in with a chance with an individual try when he followed up his own chip ahead to win the race for the touch down. He again kicked a good goal to add the two extra points.

On the stroke of half time Halifax pushed the score along with a close range try, which was converted; giving them a seven-point lead.

Early in the second half now playing with the slope Halifax scored a well worked try from 40-yards out with their left wingman coming at speed to burst through the Keighley's defences. The extra points were added.

Keighley now playing up the slope had their work cut out to stop Halifax's battering forwards. Alan Bradford now playing at loose forward tried in vain to get the young pack going forward, but to no avail.

The whole team did defend well but due to trying to stop any further tries they gave away many penalties and two were kicked.

Race and Robert Clark controlled in the line-out in the first half, but as they tired they struggled to win ball. Oliver Sugden did won the scrum count with his hooking taking two against the head.

This game will in the future stand these colts in good stead as they all gleaned an insight into senior rugby against a team who are used to playing regular league matches.

Keighley 3rd XV 14

Halifax Vandals 2nd XV 10

Keighley secured a fine win against a physical Halifax Vandals 2nd team despite making nine changes to the previous week's side.

Nick Coppack helped out in the front row and veteran number eight Hawley was called upon to complete the pack. With Tom Ogden making his debut in the second row along side colt's teammate Nathan Thornton, the Keighley forwards competed well against a much bigger pack.

Keighley always looked capable of scoring when the ball was with the three quarters and it was following a break from centre Tillotson that the home side scored first through Grant. Brookes added the conversion only for Vandals to hit back straight away to score an unconverted try to make the score 7 points to 5 at half time.

Keighley's pack continued to work hard in the second half with Dyson and Birkett looking solid in the set play, Shone and man of the match McDowell outstanding in the rucks and mawls.

McGill's distribution gave Brookes time to control the game at stand off with a good mix of kicking and running rugby. Shuttleworth's trademark dummies were instrumental in making space for his team mates to exploit and it was Bailey who took advantage to score Keighley's second try following a strong evasive run from the half way line. Brookes added the 2 points. With 20 minutes remaining, Vandals scored another unconverted try to set up a tense finale. The introduction of Kendall strengthened the tiring forwards over the closing stages. Phillips ran and tackled well all afternoon, which typified Keighley's overall performance. Referee Olsen also put in an excellent display controlling the game from start to finish.