Keighley may currently be 17 points adrift of safety in the SDS Bradford League First Division but their all-rounder Richard Robinson is adamant that they won't go down.

Initially held back by unavailability of players due to a wedding Down Under, the Lawkholme Laners found themselves in a three-way mid-season fight to avoid the drop along with Morley and Farsley.

But wins for Farsley over Bradford & Bingley and Morley have created a cushion above the two relegation spots.

And Keighley added to Morley's woes by defeating them last Saturday to go 13 points in front of the basement club.

Robinson said: "Our skipper Steve Reape scored 85 not out and vice-captain Ross Towler took five for 63, so they are leading by example and we must follow them this week."

Keighley start their double weekend at home to sixth-placed Brighouse tomorrow.

"They have recruited well over the winter with Mark Gilliver and Haroon Rashid, and they also have James Stansfield," added Robinson.

"But they are the kind of side that we should be beating if we want to stay in this division."

Some pundits say Keighley are too good to go down but Robinson said: "It doesn't work like that because you have to win your games, and we haven't played up to our potential.

"A lot of games we have lost have been by ten or 15 runs, and they are games that we need to be winning."

As for his own form, Robinson calls it "so-so". He added: "It certainly hasn't been my worst season."

An important part of Keighley's bowling attack has been his elder brother Jamie, who started the season as second-team captain.

Richard explained: "Jamie has gone through the wall for us a few times this season and that noise you heard coming from Keighley on Monday was probably Jamie's deep breathing as he recovered from his spell!

"But the thing is that most of the bowlers who are doing well in our second team, who are having a fantastic season, are spinners such as Ashley Robinson and Andy Coppen rather than seamers."

Morley face a tough proposition at home to second-placed Pudsey St Lawrence, while leaders Woodlands are at home to Bradford & Bingley, who have hauled themselves up to ninth.

Khan called up for Academy

Shoaib Khan is the latest overseas player from Division Two to be called up for a series of matches for the Pakistan Academy against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Hartshead Moor batsman joins fast bowlers Rizwan Akbar (Great Horton) and Asad Ali (Bankfoot)in returning to Pakistan.

The Highmoor Lane club will sorely miss Khan who has been among the league's most prolific run-scorers since replacing Khurram Shezad this season following his departure to Cleckheaton.

But Khan is intending to come back for the last few games of the season.

"He's adamant he's coming back," said skipper Matthew Evans.

"He's got a job in Keighley which they are going to hold for him. Financially, he said it's in his interests to come back. He'll miss four games Windhill, Manningham Mills, Undercliffe and Bowling Old Lane."

Though Evans admitted his absence was a blow, he added: "There's always a risk of that happening.

"When you sign an overseas player and something like this happens, you wish them all the best. If you want to avoid this sort of thing you sign an Aussie or an older Asian."