Victoria Rangers 16

Keighley Albion 20

Keighley Albion travelled to Victoria Rangers last weekend for a league game that was likely to have a big say in the promotion ambitions of both clubs.

Vic Rangers set off like a house on fire and really took the game to Albion in the first ten minutes. Albion were on the back foot straight away and in the first five minutes Albion old boy Tony Fretwell went in at the left corner to open the scoring for Rangers however John Beanland couldn't add the goal. Albion were clearly rattled and were beginning to give away penalties and allow Rangers easy progress up the field. WIthin two minutes of their first try Rangers put some text book rugby together again and their left winger Kieran McDermott went in at the corner with Beanland successful with the conversion to give them a ten point advantage and leave Albion shell shocked.

Albion began to get their game together and with Mark Jackson Ben Farrar and Steve Wrench taking Albion forward in attack Dean Brookes carved a half chance for Craig Livock but good cover defence from Rangers prevented his score. Albion continued to come back at Rangers but they were defending excellently. A kick through from Brookes saw Albion go close again and as the game began to heat up Albion's cause wasn't helped when Farrar and one of the Rangers forwards were put in the sin bin after a brief scuffle.

The game continued to be end to end and Albion came close to scoring from a Brookes kick through before Rangers likewise nearly scored off a kick through but Colin Pickles just kicked the ball dead in the nick of time.

Towards the end of the first half Albion dug deep and were rewarded when a break from Farrar saw Brookes put Steve Cullen in. From the kick off Farrar made the all important break again and some quick passing to Jimmy Feather allowed him to send Chris Atkins clear to score. Cullen added the goal to cut Albion's deficit to 10-8.

Albion continued to press hard and it was Victoria Rangers who allowed their discipline to go that led to Albion being awarded a penalty.Cullen slotted it over to tie the score at half time 10 - 10.

At the turnround Vic Rangers made the stronger start and Mick Walker's hard work paid off for Rangers when he capitalised on Albion errors to take Rangers back in front with a well deserved try. Beanland missed the conversion but picked up a penalty to give Rangers the lead once more 16 - 10. The game became deadlocked with Albion trying to breakdown Rangers resolute defence. Albion never gave up on the game and after good Albion pressure Brookes kick through was not fielded by the Rangers full back and Livock pounced to get the ball down and bring the score back to 16-14.

Encouraged by the try Albion pressed on again and good work from Wrench Farrar and Parker saw Brookes put Livock through to score the deciding try and Albion take the lead with only a few minutes remaining. As the final whistle went Albion's celebrations could begin whilst Rangers were left wondering how they could have lost the game they seemed to have so much control over early on.

Wrench Farrar Brookes and Jackson were the pick of Albions players. Albion have another stiff test when they take on St Josephs from the Premier Division in the quarter final of the Pennine Cup. Kick off is 2.00 at Burgess playing field whilst the second team travel to Victoria Vikings in the league.

Keighley Albion A 6

Silsden Park Rangers 54

Rangers got their league season back on track with a convincing win at under strength 12 man Keighley Albion. But it was Albion who struck first after a scrappy start from both teams. Gary Baxter scored from close range after 9 minutes nearly under the sticks; but a poor conversion attempt let the visitors off the hook to trail by only 4 points. Rangers then moved up a gear, and some great forward play from Martyn Fryers sent his brother Paul Fryers in under the posts. Andy Bowness had the easiest of conversions to add the extra 2 points.

Silsden then relaxed into a more fluent game, and further tries from Andy Bowness, Neil Jordan and Mark Adams were all converted by Andy Bowness before the interval. Albion's only other points came from a penalty converted by Gary Baxter, giving a half time score of 24-6.

The second half saw one-way traffic as the Albion side tired, not having the personnel to bring on from the bench. After some good forward play from Matt Horne and Ed Billings, a gap appeared in the Albion defence enabling the Silsden man of the match Martyn Fryers to score under the posts. Andy Bowness adding the extras, and a second try from Paul Fryers was also converted by Bowness. Silsden went further ahead with a 60 yard try from full back Alan Preston, this time converted by Chris Langdale as Andy Bowness had been substituted as a precaution to protect an ankle injury sustained in training. Silsden pressed the Albion line and Matt Bowness was unlucky not to score as he appeared to have grounded the ball, but it was ruled out for being held up. Albion had some good breaks from Feather and Hollings, but the Silsden cover defence stood firm. Further tries followed from Chris Sutcliffe and Mark Ives, both converted by Chris Langdale in impressive kicking form from by the touchline to complete the convincing win by 54 points to 6.

Silsden will need to be in top form on Saturday when they take on the improving Calder Valley at Silsden Park. Kick-off is at the later time of 2.30pm.

Cowling Harlequin 18

Keighley Town A 14

When Halifax Irish A cancelled at 10 pm on Thursday Cowling thought that their plans to play at Cougar Park would end in failure.

It was not until 10.25 on the Saturday morning that a friendly game was finally arranged with Keighley Town A. With 20 minutes to go to kick-off there wasn't a referee available when Paul Howson, who had gone along to watch, stepped in at the last minute to officiate.

Having lost 36-6 to Town early in the season Cowling were expecting a tough competition and they were not disappointed. A vigorous battle saw the first half ending 14-10 in favour of Cowling. Keighley Town scored first in the second half and the teams were level until Carlton Farrell clinched victory for Cowling with a superb length of the pitch burst.

Farrell and Richard Curtin scored two tries each for Cowling. Fullback Jimmy Anson was Cowling's man of the match and town's No6 was the pick of their team.

"We would like to thank Keighley Town for making a great day possible," Said John Edwards of the Harlequin.