Albion reach cup semi-final

Keighley Albion returned to action and winning ways with a devastating display of open rugby which takes them through to the semi finals of the Pennine Cup.

Their opponents came with a huge pack and big reputation. The Halifax side are Division One promotion contenders and have already disposed of Premier Division Underbank in the previous round.

Gary Moorby's pre-match team talk must have been effective as his side came out fired up and in no mood for complacency. Craig Livock opened the first gap after 10 minutes, putting the supporting Simon Kelk over to open the scoring, Kelk converting. More Albion pressure saw the ball move across the line, stand off Bobby Brown scored in the corner, Kelk adding the conversion.

The Keighley side were now in full flow with half backs Paul Moses and Bobby Brown directing operations. Another attack saw Glen Palmer collect a loose ball to touchdown under the posts. Rob Haughey finished off great work by Kelk and Brown to leave the stunned visitors wondering what had hit them, Kelk added the goal to take the score to 22-6 at the break, following a Calder try and goal.

Albion began the second half just as eager. Centre Haughey again finishing off some excellent football to add his second. A slick move from a scrum involving Glen Palmer and Paul Moses put winger Alistair Feather in at the corner and Mark Kellet kicked a towering touchline conversion to keep up the pressure. Calder's big pack worked hard, but the Albion six stood their ground with Andy Parker, Ian Spencer and Dean Brooks tackling them out of the game. Paul Sinfield typified Albion's effort with an amazing show of determination as he powered over from 20 yards out, scattering defenders in his wake, Kellet once more converting.

The visitors hit back with a try and a goal but man of the match Rob Haughey sealed a superb individual performance with a hat trick which Kellet converted to take Albion through to the semi finals.

Gary Morrby commented: "Hopefully this performance has made the players realise how well they can play. I told them it was time to stand up and be counted before the game, now they are 80 runs off a major final."

Injury-hit Silsden Park Rangers went down to a 24-6 home defeat to Rotherham last Saturday, but fought hard all the way, to give the big South Yorkshire outfit a real run for their money.

Half-backs Alan Preston and Jon Gwilliam led a fine defensive effort with some terrific tackling and Gwilliam, together with man of the match Neil Jordan and his centre partner Eddie Billing, were Silsden's most potent attacking weapons. Among the forwards Jim Coldwell ran hard and often while Tim Smith showed up well following his switch from the wing.

Rotherham took an early lead with a well-worked try, but it was a credit to Rangers that they managed to stay in touch throughout the first half and at one time survived 24 consecutive tackles on their own line.

Silsden briefly threatened a fightback when trailing 18-0 midway through the second period. Pat Illingworth twisted his way through the tackles for a well taken close range try and Mark Kent's conversion put them within 12 points. Rotherham however were in no mood to surrender and soon wrapped it up with a try at the other end.

Rangers will now hope to welcome back some of their injured players for tomorrow's stern test at West Bowling A (kick off 2.30pm).

Albion's second string stormed home 32-16 with a stirling performance against a spirited Shipley side, to clinch the Pennine League Division 5 Championship title.

The first 20 minutes were anxious ones as Albion struggled to maintain any co-ordination or game plan, having also to withstand some harsh refereeing decisions and facing a lively Shipley team determined to spoil the party.

Shipley took an early lead with a penalty goal but then rocked by a piece of sheer brilliance when scrum half Wayne McComb, out of the first team due to being cup-tied, blazed his way through a bewildered defence, to race away over 60 yards for the first of Albion's six tries. Minutes later he was almost away again and then found himself on the wrong end of the referee's wrath by being sin-binned for a professional foul.

Two further penalty goals put Shipley back in front but Albion's game plan was beginning to take effect with outstanding second row man Tim Cooper making some big yardage deep into the Shipley defence. Centre Steve Bennett's pace was also proving to be effective and clever ball skills from stand-off John Williams feeding centre Mark Ingham almost paid off, only to be foiled on the line by a gang tackling Shipley defence. However Albion's war of attrition finally paid dividends when alert hooker Danny Bowness kicked through and got the second touch down and his successful conversion put them 10-6 in front.

A defence bursting run by prop John 'Chubbsy' Normington took play right back into the Shipley 20 metre zone and the supporting Williams was on hand to power over near the posts, leaving Bowness with an easy conversion and give the Albion lads a 16-6 half-time lead.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was ding-dong affair with both teams going close but it was more McComb magic which broke the deadlock when he danced through the Shipley defence to score wide out and then duly converted his own try. Albion were on a roll and the championship was beckoning so it was no surprise when Ingham stormed over in the corner and McComb's conversion put the game safe at 28-6.

To Shipley's credit they never gave up and their efforts were rewarded when they scored an unconverted try, but back came the Albion and again it was McComb, completing his hat trick who kept the distance the same with another of his darting, jinking runs to round off an outstanding game. Shipley had the final say as far as scoring was concern, when they scored a converted try with only minutes remaining, but it was Albion's day as coach Gary Palmer's boys powered their way to the title with a good all-round team performance both in attack and defence.

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