A PURPLE patch midway through the first half saw Keighley Town score four tries without reply to send them to victory over Silsden Park Rangers.

Town's first try came after centre Mark Fudge had hoisted a huge bomb which Silsden failed to defuse. Scrum half Neil Kennedy scored beside the posts to leave an easy conversion.

Silsden put together some nice touches and scrum half Andy Bowness was unlucky not to score, losing the ball in the tackle as he crossed the line.

Town extended their lead when Kennedy jinked his way through the Silsden defence and scored under the posts. He also added the extras. Minutes later Town went further ahead when stand off Wayne McCoomb chipped over the Silsden defence for Kennedy to collect and race ahead before finding McCoomb in support to score, Kennedy converting.

Tony Metcalfe added a fourth for Town with a move which saw the ball go through several pairs of hands and Metcalfe score in the corner to give Town a 22-0 half time lead.

Silsden looked equal to Town for much of the opening period of the second half and with young Andy Bowness and Sean Cooper prompting their side forward, Phil Lane finished off a fine move to score out wide.

Neil Jordan also scored with Bowness converting to put Silsden back in with a chance.

A penalty for offside gave Kennedy the chance to increase the scoreline and when skipper Daz Lynam broke the defence, Tony Metcalfe linked with McCoomb who found Fudge to score, and Kennedy added the conversion.

Man of the match Neil Kennedy completed his hat-trick when DAle Barlow burst through a tired Silsden defence and put Kennedy over beside the posts to give an easy conversion and a final scoreline of 36-10.

Keighley Town return to league action at Brighouse.

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