Roundhegians 19, Keighley 30

After the disappointment of last season's relegation Keighley secured promotion back to league North East 1 with a convincing victory.

Full back Carl Smith was the hero of the day with four sparkling tries, but in reality the win was the result of an all round team effort. Whilst Keighley have several very good players their successful season has been based on a squad system in which every player has shown character and commitment, allied often to a significant amount of skill.

Roundhegians ground has been over the years the scene of some tense and close encounters between the two sides but once Keighley had overcome their initial rather tentative and nervous start, the result of Saturday's game was never in doubt.

The home side's defence was at full stretch on several occasions in the first 15 minutes as Keighley pressed for the first score. Wingman John Hinchliffe and Warren Knowles were both held just short and a powerful rolling maul by the pack was somehow held up on the line.

Keighley's relentless pressure eventually paid dividends when stand off John Harrison worked a third side move with scrum half Martin Uren and his well judged pass to Hinchliffe allowed the wingman to make excellent progress before slipping the ball to the supporting Smith who crossed for a try in the corner. Harrison added a fine conversion.

Smith's timely incursion into the line soon brought him his second try aided by some half hearted tackling by the Roundhegians backs, with Harrison again adding the goal.

The home side replied with some spirited forward work, taking play to the Keighley line but Keighley's defence was well organised in the face of a series of tapped penalties taken by the eager Roundhegians.

Long touch finding kicks by Harrison and Smith eventually drove play back into the Roundhegians half and following good line out possession by 2nd row man Tim Midgley, Keighley were awarded a penalty try when centres Richard Emmott and Kevin Young were obstructed with the line at the mercy.

Harrison's kick gave Keighley a deserved 21 point half time lead, which was soon extended when the rampant Smith surged down the wing to cross for his third try, impeccably converted from the touchline into the breeze by Harrison.

A sharp break by the ever improving Uren gave Smith the chance to run in his final try and for Harrison to maintain his 100 per cent kicking record with the conversion.

Keighley were by then leading by 35 points and apparently coasting to an easy victory but the home side had failed to read the script and fought back gamely in the last 15 minutes.

Aided by the loss of Keighley's hooker Darren Ideson and prop Neil Marklew and by some prolific and over generous penalty awards by the referee, the Roundhegians pack mounted a storming rear guard action and were rewarded with two tries to prop Paul Harling, one of which was converted by stand off Alistair Punton.

It was, however, too little and much too late and even a last minute try by wingman Smith converted by Punton served only to add a little respectability to the scoreline, without taking the gloss off a clear Keighley victory.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.