Keighley 57

Pocklington 8

Bottom of the table Pocklington offered only token resistance as Keighley logged their sixth consecutive league win to strengthen their position at the top.

For the first 10 minutes the visitors' flattered to deceive, their forwards playing with commendable vigour and forcing Keighley onto the back foot. Stand off Bowling was off target with a drop goal attempt, before Pocklington's early pressure was finally rewarded with a penalty goal by full back Taylor.

Thereafter they were seldom in contention. Keighley's forwards gradually took control and they took the lead after 15 minute. A well executed loop move by half backs Scott Amos and Johnny Harrison fed centre John Hinchliffe whose angle running deceived the defence and he stormed over for a spectacular try.

The lively Amos was a regular threat with his probing runs and he was instrumental in Keighley's next score. Peter Schofield picked up from a scrum on the Pocklington 22 metre line before feeding Amos whose well timed pass put Hinchliffe in for his second try.

A penalty goal miss by Taylor was Pocklington's best response, in spite of the prompting of their energetic No.8 Atkinson and some effective line out work by second row man Biggin.

Keighley's pack drove remorselessly forward and after Paul Salmon was held almost on the line, flanker Leigh Sugden pounced on a loose ball over the try line after Pocklington's line out was put under pressure.

On the stroke of half time a penalty goal from Johnny Harrison, to add to his three earlier conversions, gave Keighley a comfortable 24-3 lead.

Whilst never allowing the visitors to gain the initiative, Keighley began the second half slowly. They were unable to fashion much in the way of cohesion. Pocklington's defence was stubborn and assisted by unforced handling errors by Keighley; they survived a long siege on their line. Eventually however, Keighley's patience was rewarded.

Several times the ball was recycled by the pack before it was released to the backs and Hinchliffe darted through a gap to complete an excellent hat-trick of tries, bringing his season's total to nine.

Pocklington rallied briefly, taking advantage of a lazy spell by Keighley and prop forward Birch crossed for a try following a line out five metres from the Keighley line. It was a signal for Keighley once more to pick up their game. Another break by Schofield from the base of the scrum and deft handling by Amos and Hinchliffe brought a try for Amos and shortly afterwards the hard working Schofield crossed for his seventh try of the season from a tapped penalty.

A powerful run by centre Curr from half way brought him an excellent try and finally skipper Rob Riley was rewarded for another exemplary display when he forced his way over from close range after a powerful build up by the forwards.

There was still time for the irrepressible Leigh Sugden to charge through a tired defence only to be tackled short of the line as Keighley continued to turn the screw. Assisted by another top class display of place kicking by Johnny Harrison, who converted eight out of nine attempts at goal, Keighley had, however, run up their highest score of the season. That they achieved it whilst only occasionally reproducing the form so often displayed in earlier matches promises well for the rest of the campaign.

Pocklington 2nd XV 13

Keighley 2nd XV 42

After 20 minutes of testing rugby in wet conditions Keighley's pace in the backs paid dividends. Full back Ben Woodwiss cut through Pocklington's defence to score a try, but he was unable to add the conversion.

Kevin Young followed up from a quick tap penalty, drawing the opposition with a dummy run and feeding to fellow centre Michael Moxley who scored his first try.

Balderstone and Cavender were trying to get their backs moving and Kevin Young crossed for a try.

Pocklington got on the score board with a penalty under the posts and for a time their forwards caused problems with some driving mauls, but Keighley's eight weathered the storm. Just on half time Stuart Inman following a kick up field, latched on to the loose ball and beat off two defenders to score his first senior try.

The second half saw Keighley score four more tries through Rick Emmott, Carl Smith and two more for Moxley.

Cavender converted the last try to complete the scoring as Keighley won easily, but they will need a consistent goal kicker in tougher games.

Keighley 3rd XV 34

Otley 4th XV 12

A good performance from the Development side brought victory over a determined Otley outfit.

After an even opening 10 minutes, Brookes made a fine break at centre and passed to Whittaker who's neat inside pass found Leach who forced his way over for the first try. Following some good forward play, Thornton who went over to extend the lead to 10-0.

This was Keighley's best first half performance of the season, with the forwards winning great ball for an inventive back line, inspired by Grant at fly half, to create some fine chances.

The first of two Schofield tries came following a strong 35-yard break by Scarborough at full back. Shuttleworth scored the final try of the first half after a trademark dummy opened up the Otley back line. Grant converted to make the half time score 22-0 to Keighley.

After making several changes Keighley lost their rhythm but the forwards continued to make progress and Clarke scored after some direct running. Grant converted.

Otley never gave up and scored a good try 10 minutes later. Schofield's second try was a result of some good mauling by the Keighley forwards, particularly Scott, Cook and Sugden. With seconds remaining, Otley scored a consolation try to make the final score 34-12.