Rugby League: Town fight to the end

Town made the All Blacks fight all the way for their victory after the home side got off to a flying start scoring in the first ten minutes due to some sloppy tackling by Town, but their 6-0 lead was short lived.

Good play by Town's forwards them to within l5yds of the All Blacks line and stand off Rocky McNulty raced from dummy half to beat the two markers and strolled over. Town failed to convert all their kicking opportunities or the scores would have been a lot closer.

Scrum Half Neil Kennedy scored Town's second try, after a run-around move with man of the match Daz Lynam, Kennedy and side stepping his way through the All Blacks defence to give Town a 6-lead at the break.

The second half saw Town lose composure for 15 minutes and Crigglestone took advantage with scoring two converted tries to take an 18-8 lead. They also kicked all five goals despite a strong wind blowing across the pitch.

After their 15 minutes of madness Albion got back into the game when centre Alan Muff played the ball back to fullback Steve Jones who chipped the ball over the oncoming All Blacks defence. The Crigglestone fullback fumbled the ball allowing Neil Kennedy and Ian Barnes to get their hands on the ball at the same time just before the ball went dead. Kennedy gave the try to Barnes for his effort.

Town pressured the Crigglestone line for periods of the last 15-20 minutes but they withstood the pressure and Town were caught offside in a kickable position which the All Blacks slotted to make the score 20-12.

A converted try five minutes from time took the game out of Town's reach. Top performers for Town were Daz Lynham, Dale Spencer, Neil Kennedy and Steve Jones.

Keighley Albion 2nds 12

Dodworth 24

In the absence of a first team game following a last minute cancellation by Huddersfield, their second string were able to field a fuller strength side. The 'brat pack' of Feather, Blackburn and Cullen stepped in to bolster the team against Barnsley side Dodworth, who were looking to revenge their only early season defeat at the hands of Albion.

Conditions were atrocious and deteriorated as the game went on but both sides tried to put on a good spectacle and play some good football. Dodworth were the first to strike when their scrum-half danced through Albion's defence to score a converted try, but Albion hit straight back.

The Smiths, Mark and Wayne, took the home side forward and Bobby Brown created a little bit of magic to open up Dodworth with a chip over the defence. Richard Blackburn was in support to touch down.

The try was converted and Albion continued to put Dodworth under pressure. Brown popped up again and combined with Blackburn again when a short pass put him over for a converted try which gave Albion a 12-6 lead.

With the pitch beginning to resemble a mudbath Dodworth's size began to take its. Jimmy Feather was tackling anything that ran at him ably backed up by Blackburn and Wayne Smith. However this proved to be in vain when some quick thinking at a tap penalty saw Dodworth go nearly the full length of the field to tie the game. Constant pressure on the Albion line paid dividends as they scored two further tries to lead 20-6 at half time.

The second half became a real slog for both sides who had just about become unrecognisable in the mud and only Dodworth were able to add to the scoring when their scrum half scooted over to secure the 24-12 win.

Bobby Brown, Richard Blackburn and Jimmy Feather stood out but all Albion's players deserve a mention for trying to play the game in such testing conditions.

The second team entertain Todmorden at Burgess playing fields tomorrow (Saturday) and the first team go into the local derby with Keighley Town at Marley, kick off 2.30.

Keighley Town A 18

Lindley Swifts A 24

Town came close, but not close enough, to pulling off a great win after being beating soundly two weeks agao by Swifts.

Town's misture of youth annd the odd old head began to show what they are capable of, but they need to concentrate for the full 80 minutes if they are to fulfil their potential.

For the first 25 minutes Swifts didn't know what had hit them as the Town team tackled them out of the game. They took advantage and opened up a 10-point lead before a mixture of bad conditions and lack of concentration allowed Swifts to level the scores before the break.

Sifts added a further two tries to take an 18-10 lead and town clicked into gear again, going close three or four times before getting a score on the board to make it 14-18.

They failed to stop one of Swifts' hard running props who extended their lead to 14-24 and although Town again began to work as a team, time was runningout. They scored again on the stroke of full time which left them agonisingly close to claiming victory.

Town's try scorers were Barrett, Melvin, Hamid, Parker and Hudson with one goal being kicked. There were great attacking performances from King, Lewis, Mount and man of the match Parker, who was excellent at fullback.