Cleckheaton Kestrels 30 - 3 Keighley

The Kestrels earned a much deserved win over Keighley with a great performance, scoring 4 tries and restricting the visitors to a single penalty.

Injuries, Illness and other unavailability forced a few positional changes on the 2nds with Ben Thrower having to move from hooker to blindside flanker and openside Danny Graham facing the prospect of having to fill-in on the wing. However, it turne out that Mike Piper was without a game and answered a late call to fill in at stand-off.

Early exchanges between the teams were evenly matched. Keighley made a couple of notable breaks into the Cleck 22 but were thwarted each time by resolute defence. The Kestrels back line also looked dangerous in early play but try scoring opportunities were frustrated by forward passes.

As the first half wore on the home side grew in confidence and it seemed only a matter of time before they would get points on the board. Connor Davis eventually opened up Cleck’s account with a kick-chase that Keighley’s fullback failed to deal with, leaving the winger to dive on the ball just before it trickled over the dead ball line. Mike Piper added the extras on the 20 minute mark, to give Cleckheaton a 7 point lead.

The Kestrels were in the ascendency from this point on and front 3 of Chris Piper, Sowden and Haigh, supported by the engine room of Holland and Womersley, turned over the Keighley scrum on a couple of occasions. From one of Cleck’s own scrums, quick hands from Depledge, Piper and Tolson put Davis in space, for what surely would be his second try. However Keighley, not realising how fast Connor is, chased after him and bungled him into touch a yard short of the line. Cleck kept up the pressure and with 2 minutes left in the half were given a penalty in centre field, 30 metres out. Piper added the 3 points to give a half time score of 10 - 0.

Cleck knew with a points deficit and just 40 minutes to go, Keighley would have to come out with all guns blazing if they were to get back in the game. However, it was the Kestrels who got the first points with an early penalty to extend their score to 13 - 0. The homeside made a couple of substitutions at this point, Nick Holland leaving the field for Simon Quinn and Ben Thrower who had done a good job at blindside, making way for Ricky Motlib.

Keighley showed spirit as they tried to get back on terms and earned 2 penalty shots, one of which they converted. However, Cleck’s back line were looking too strong for their opposition and Piper and Tolson created space for Craig Blackburn to sprint 25 metres, round the defence, for try in the right hand corner. Piper added the extras to bring the score to 20 - 3.

Cleck should have gone further in front when Neil Gillan got away down the blindside from the back of a scrum but with a single defender to beat and Tom Clapham in support, he lost control of the ball. It wasn’t too long however, before the score sheet was updated again, this time Mickey Emmitt out gassing the defence for a try on the left and then Davis adding his second, going over by the corner flag. Piper, who had played an excellent game, went close with both conversions but neither were successful. The whistle blew for time and the Kestrels has got a convincing 30 - 3 win.

This was a rewarding effort for all who played. The back line looked dangerous each time they got the ball and the forwards worked tirelessly, particularly in defence, for the full 80 minutes. Next week the Kestrels are at home to York and if they can repeat this performance, will surely start to put together a winning run.