Keighley Albion produced a superb team effort to register their second league win of the season.

Defence proved to be the main ingredient as the Keighley side tackled the bigger Huddersfield outfit out of the game. Albion have not had much luck this season and when Swifts touched down within minutes of the kick off, when a kick bounced off an Albion player and into the in-goal area for the visitors to score, it appeared nothing had changed. Swifts converted the try and added a penalty to take up an 0-8 lead. Outstanding loose forward Craig Livock, who continues to impress following his recall to the first team this season, put Albion on the scoresheet with the first of his two tries. Lee Humphries crowned a typical hardworking performance, crashing in at the corner to level the scores. Simon Kelk added the conversion to lead 10-8 at the break. The second half saw the home side continue to keep the pressure on with Andy Parker, Dean Broad and Rob Haughey leading the Albion tackling. Stand off Bobby Brown touched down, Kelk converting, Livock added his second, Kelk again converting before going over himself. The visitors scored a late consolation try but there was never any doubt about the final outcome. Albion in this mood will be a match for anyone if they can maintain this determiantion. A climb up the table should be inevitable.

Gary Moorby comment: "We've produced lots of effort for little reward this season, but at the end of the day you have to stand up and be counted, the players deserved this win. Hopefully we can build on this."

This Saturday Albion v Clayton 2pm kick off - Highfield.

n Pennine Division Five high fliers, Albion A provided a major shock in the First Round of BARLA's National Cup by overturning London side, RAF Uxbridge 23-18.

One of only four A teams in the cup competition Albion had to pull out all the stops after going 14-0 down early in the second half.

Uxbridge had the better of the first half exchanges, taking full advantage of what few chances were going with both team's defences working overtime. An early penalty goal, followed by a converted try, gave the RAF side an 8-0 half-time lead. Albion had been unable to capitalise on their chances with prop Neil Palmer, twice, second-row forward Mark Ingham and young scrum-half Mick Riddiough being held up on the line.

A defensive lapse at the start of the second half saw Uxbridge go further in front when their outstanding scrum half raced 30 yards to go under the posts for a converted try and put them 14 points clear.

Two penalty goals by stand off Dean Condran, reducing the arears by four points, signalled the start of a gritty and gutsy fight back. With Palmer, Ingham and man of the match, loose-forward Phil Hunter steaming out of their blocks and making big yardage every time they got the ball, it was clear the Albion had no intention of giving up on this game. Their first try came when Palmer powered his way over following a 25 yard barn-storming run to touch down near the posts. Condran's successful conversion, followed a few minutes later by a third penalty goal reduced the deficit to two points and triggered off a pulsating final 20 minutes - as they say 'cometh the hour, cometh the man' and they came! Gary 'Biddy' Baxter distributed well, launching the Albion forwards at the Uxbridge defence and it was another typical Palmer run which was held inches short allowing quick thinking hooker Danny Bowness to touch down to the left of the posts. Condran's successful conversion put Albion 18-14 in front and minutes later Bowness was again on hand to give Albion a five point lead with a well taken drop goal.

Uxbridge threw everything at a resolute Albion defence with the experienced Ingham Hunter and centre Tim Cooper covering every blade of grass to keep them out, but they did breach the defence wall when they squeezed over in the corner. With only a point in it and 10 minutes to go Albion went straight back on the offensive, resulting in Palmer putting the supporting Baxter into the corner to restore their five lead and take them into the second round.

This had been an outstanding team performance with a blend of experience with the likes of Hunter, Ingham, Palmer, Baxter and centre Tim Cooper and the young guns - Danny Seaton had a blinder at full-back in both attack and defence, Gary Boocock toiled relentlessly in the second row, half backs Condran and the excellent Riddiough, hooker Bowness and centre Phil Sullivan. It had been a historic win for coach Gary Palmer's boys as they became the only A team to make it into Round 2 and now face Blackpool Stanley away on February 6.

n Silsden Park Rangers came across tough opposition in Yorkshire League Division One leaders Stanley Rangers in the BNFL Cup and gave a reasonable account of themselvesdespite going down 44-8.

Man of the match Jon Gwilliam set a tremendous example throughout and there were also excellent performances from Eddie Billing and Mark Adams. Hooker Steve Riley made a welcome return to the side and topped the tackle count.

Silsden actually took an early 8-2 lead, courtesy of a Neil Jordan try and two Adams' goals. Gwilliam chipped over the Stanley defence to create the touchdown, regathering his kick and sending Jordan crashing over. But Stanley soon exerted their authority, helped by some curious refereeing decisions and by half-time they were leading 30-8.

Silsden tightened up considerably after the break and did well to restrict Stanley - coached by Castleford and Great Britain prop Dean Sampson - to only 14 further points.

Tomorrow Silsden have another tricky fixture away to high riding Emley Moor, while the A team take on Worth Village A at home, kick offs 2pm.

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