Keighley 13

HEMSWORTH 7

Keighley limped into the second round of the Yorkshire Shield competition with an uncharacteristic lack lustre performance against a side they had beaten without difficulty in a league fixture at the beginning of December.

For the first 30 minutes of a dour encounter, played in testing conditions, they threatened to overwhelm the visitor's who, during this period, scarcely put a foot into Keighley territory and who somehow managed to repel a series of onslaughts on their line.

Too many times however, the final pass was spilled, vital possession was lost or wrong options chosen and it was left to skipper Johnny Harrison to complete the first half scoring with two penalty goals. Early chances were thwarted by the tenacious defence, perhaps the clearest falling to prop Paul Sinfield who was unable to hang on to a try scoring pass almost at the posts.

Full back Matt Gaffney's direct running occasionally brightened up proceedings, but the highlight of a dull first 40 minutes was a thrilling 40 meters charge by flanker Lee Gordon directly from the restart after Harrison's second penalty goal. Otherwise only a determined dash by wingman John Hinchcliffe raised spirits as both sides succumbed to a series of unforced errors.

Keighley's domination continued into the second half and from a rare passing movement, Warren Knowles was unlucky to be denied a try when referee Tom Ashworth adjudged that the ball was not grounded after the wingman had dived in at the corner.

Eventually Keighley's persistence was rewarded when centre Dale Towler picked his running angle to perfection and crossed between the posts with Harrison converting.

What should have been the signal for Keighley to turn the screw proved to be the opposite. The visitor's close mauling game increasingly upset Keighley's disjointed forward effort. The home pack was unable to retain possession and the visitors gradually came in to the game. Wingman Matt Bartle was unlucky when his penalty goal attempt rebounded off a post and full back John Key's lively pace several times tested Keighley's resolve. There was, however, little to indicate that the 13 points lead was under serious threat as Keighley continued to ensure at least parity in the set pieces. There was even the heart-warming spectacle of Paul Sinfield claiming two good line out takes in quick succession a they appeared to be edging towards victory.

With the game entering the final quarter, however Keighley's general lethargy led to Hemsworth wingman Peter Thomas following up a midfield break and hacking on for a try to which Matt Bartle added the goal. The late dismissal of Dale Towler to the sin bin, allegedly for striking, added to the tension as Hemsworth realised that a converted try would put them ahead. Surprisingly Johnny Harrison spurred a penalty attempt from a kickable position which is successful would have put his side two scores ahead and in the comfort zone as the minutes ticked away. As it was Keighley had to survive a few anxious moments before Mr Ashworth, who in the absence of few other claimants, might just have claimed the man of the match award for his good humoured control throughout, blew for time.