Keighley 20 Malton & Norton 33 - The champagne is still on ice. Chasing the win they needed to ensure promotion as champions, Keighley slipped to their first league defeat since the 14th September and at the same time conceded the double to a lively Malton & Norton side.

The visitors rocked Keighley with three tries in the first 15 minutes building up a lead of 19 points which left Keighley with too high a mountain to climb. It was to their great credit that they hauled themselves back into contention, with the result in doubt until the final minutes.

The home forwards once more rose to the challenge, outplaying the Malton & Norton pack in most aspects of play. Sadly however, the backs were never able to match the pace and flair of the visitors talented three-quarters, with full back Carl Smith again Keighley's only penetrative runner.

Keighley started in a mood of almost brash confidence which contributed to their downfall. From a promising Keighley attack, Malton's predatory wingman Ian Cooke snatched an interception from a careless pass close to the half way line and outpaced all pursuers on a run to the corner after only 4 minutes play.

It was just the tonic the visitors needed and soon afterwards second row forward David Foster finished of a fine passage of play involving forwards and backs with the second try, this time converted by Cooke.

Before Keighley could recover their composure prop Richard Ellis barged his way over from a line out and Cooke's conversion established a lead of 19 points.

It was unfamiliar territory this season for the shell-shocked Keighley side, but they responded positively with some boisterous forward play, driving the action deep into the Malton half. Hooker David Pullen set the standard with some powerful driving and foraging, ably assisted by Leigh Sugden and Paul Salmon. Prop forwards Rob Riley and Paul Sinfield, together with Salmon, were each held at the line a Keighley piled on the pressure and wingman Chris Watts was unable to hold onto a difficult pass with the line open to him. Eventually, however, the elusive score came, when Salmon combined well with Sinfield and stormed over for a well-taken try following a set line out move.

Before half time another punishing forward drive brought a try for No.8 Peter Schofield, but his joy was short lived when he was later dismissed to the sin bin for a technical offence. It was a further hurdle for Keighley to overcome. Even so, they began the second half in optimistic mood, buoyed by another strong run by Carl Smith. With the home forwards well in control Malton's 9-point lead looked vulnerable. The threat of the visitors backs was however, always apparent. Stand off Chris Creber and full back John Simpson the architects of much of their good work. A break by Creber from inside the Keighley half set up a sweeping attach which ended with Creber taking the final scoring pass for the best try of the afternoon, with Cooke converting to open up a 16 point lead.

Again Keighley's self belief came to the fore and after a punishing build up by the forwards it was, the free scoring Schofield who gained his second try which was improved by Harrison. A penalty goal by Harrison reduced the deficit to 6 points and it would have been a brave bet on the winner at this stage.

Keighley spurned several kickable penalty chances in favour of kicks to the corners in search of the vital try, but Malton's defence was brave and sound. It was not to be Keighley's day and salt was rubbed into the wound when, against the run of play, the visitors grabbed a late converted try by Cooke who gathered the ball after a series of hacks on and more than a suspicion of a step in touch.

In fairness Malton on the day deserved their success. In full back Simpson, stand off Creber and No.8 McKay they had the three most influential players on view. Keighley must now lick their wounds and prepare for Saturday week's difficult match at third placed West Leeds.