Keighley CELTIC scraped through the preliminary round of the endof season play-off just beating Halifax Irish 18-10.

After a promising performance the previous week agfainst Birkenshaw Celtic were disappointing. Their forwards failed toclick into gear and they had to rely on threequarters for all their points.

Paddy Martin bagged the first try andbroke his arm in the process. SkipperPaul Scott jinked his way over for his first try of the season following, but the try of the game went to man of the match Dale Barlow who couldquite easily have had a hat-trick.

Joe Smith landed all three conversions and Celtic led 18-4 at the break.

The second half was a dour affair but Celtic hung on despite a late Irish try.

Keighley Albion 26 Illingworth 14

Keighley Albion returned to league action and claimed two valuable points to ease the pressure in the Premier Division with a 26-14 win over Halifax side Illingworth.

Any thoughts of an easy victory over the division's basement club were quickly dispelled as the visitors scored within minutes of the kick off to take a four point lead and signal their intentions. A penalty saw Simon Kelk put Albion on the scoresheet and then good pressure on the Illingworth line saw Dean Brooks put Craig Livock over with Kelk converting to put the home side into their stride, a further Kelk penalty stretched the lead.

A 20-yard pass from Wayne McComb found Lee Humphries who quickly fed Mick Reddiough and the teenager finished off in the corner to take the half-time score to 14-4. Albion kept up the pressure after the restart and a superb ball from Andy Parker saw Wayne McComb dart in under the posts, Kelk converted. McComb was on hand again, this time involved with a slick switch play.

Paul Moses' perfectly timed pass opening the gap for McComb whose reverse pass put Alistair Feather in for the try of the game. Kelk added the conversion.

The Halifax side did not stop trying and took advantage of some poor Albion handling to add two touchdowns in the last ten minutes but it was to little too late to stop Albion taking the much needed two points.

In an inaugural Pennine League Division 5 play off, Shipley, strengthened by recent signings from the defunct Wyke Club, must have thought Albion's A team had signed up Harry Houdini - the great escapologist - because this was the great escape!

Albion's 23-22 win was a classic victory.

Basic errors, indiscipline and an inability to keep hold of the ball, in excellent conditions, saw a rampant Shipley side completely dominate the first 20 minutes, running in three tries, a conversion and a penalty goal to go 16-0 in front and it could have been worse but for some big tackling stints by hooker Steve Powell, second row forwards Mark Ingham and Gary Boocock and scrum half Mark Kellett.

Gradually the sinking ship's holes were plugged, the boat steadied and the big come-back started. An interception by centre Tim Cooper took play deep into Shipley's 20 metre zone and prop John 'Chubbsy' Normington and loose forward Phil Hunter were applying the pressure with big runs to get some points on the board before the break. Albion's pressure paid off when wingman Gary Fox finished off good handling to score in the corner, still leaving them trailing 16-4 at half-time.

Albion went up a gear in the second half and again persistence paid handsome dividends when young full back Danny Seaton's strong clever running saw him score near the posts leaving Kellett with an easy conversion 16-10.

Minutes later a Kellett penalty goal put the score at 16-12. Stand off John Williams and Kellett were taking command in the middle and it came as no surprise when Powell broke clear, drew the full back and put the supporting Williams in behind the posts. Kellett's conversion put Albion in front for the first time at 18-16. However Shipley had other ideas and a converted try restored their lead with 10 minutes to go. Back came the Albion wave, asserting more pressure, resulting in prop Neil Palmer lunging over, with three players hanging on, to get the vital touchdown and level the scores at 22 all.

A replay looked to be on until Williams' astute drop goal gave Albion a one point lead they were to hold onto until the final whistle.

Albion's persistency paid off again, as in recent games, albeit only just, but they need to harness better control of the game from the start and better self discipline with their tremendous team spirit - do that and they could be adding further silverware to their Championship trophy.

l A fine performance from the Silsden Park Rangers pack wasn't quite enough to bring home the spoils from West Bowling A last Saturday, but Bowling had been given the benefit of a few strange refereeing decisions, before pulling away 32-16 in the closing stages.

For Rangers the front row of Bob Harrison, Dave Arnold and Jim Coldwell were outstanding, while second-rowers Dave Webster and Tim Smith worked their socks off and Neil Jordan was in devastating form, particularly in the first half. Half back Jon Gwilliam also turned in his usual top-notch performance behind the scrum.

Despite making a promising start, a couple of defensive errors soon put Rangers 12-4 down. They didn't let their heads drop however and when a mighty charge by Ivan Tough took them close Arnold caught the defence napping to squeeze over from dummy half. Bowling hit back with a fine try of their own but man of the match Arnold kept Silsden in the hunt with his second try, a carbon copy of his first, this time following great work by Tobi Hooper. Full back Mark Kent continued his recent run of good form and his four goals meant Rangers turned round only 18-16 down.

The second half was a real nip and tuck affair with both Tough and Harrison going desperately close to giving Silsden the lead. But the turning point came when Jordan snapped up a loose ball with a clear run to the posts, only to be recalled for a Bowling knock on. From there on the Bradford outfit took charge and underlined their superior fitness by running in 14 unanswered points in the last 10 minutes.

Silsden hope to get back to winning ways tomorrow when they play lowly Watershed-dings Wanderers at home, kick off 2.30pm.

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