Keighley 27

Ilkley 20

Another close encounter ended in heartbreak for Ilkley as they succumbed to an up front battering from a resurgent Keighley pack.

According to the Keighley sages this was as hard a match as Keighley have played this season. A season which sees them sitting proudly at the top of the league and poised for a final push for promotion.

Yet it was another league match which Ilkley could easily have won. Keighley now have the winning feeling and look good for their top spot. When Ilkley went 17-10 in the lead with 25 minutes to go they looked good enough to take the spoils and even go on to enhance the lead. Instead that lack of confidence and the odd indiscretion allowed Keighley to regain the control they had exerted for much of the first-half and go on to win 27-20.

Ilkley started the brightest and were soon rewarded with a three point lead after full- back Phil Moffatt had set up a platform for skipper Anthony Cadman to drop a goal. This was a great effort. Such a shame that Keighley were allowed to reply so soon.

As a result of just a couple of sloppy tackles and territory gifted by successive penalties Keighley were able to use their powerful pack to drive at the Ilkley line. Scoring machine Schofield went over for the first try. Johnny Harrison added the two points.

Ilkley were soon back on the scoresheet, this time Sean Gilbert set up a good forward drive. Mike Noble was tackled and Keighley came over the top. Cadman added the three points to put his side right back in it at 6-7.

As happens so often with Ilkley the concentration lapsed momentarily and the green and reds were allowed to surge back into the Ilkley 22, courtesy of a lost line-out. After apparently holding the Keighley attack at bay with some sterling defence, referee Mr McDonagh awarded a penalty for off-side. Harrison duly obliged to open a gap up at 6-10.

From the kick-off Gus Rogers stole the ball to set up Tim Barley. He chipped on to force a touchdown behind the line and from the five metre scrum Ilkley were rewarded with another penalty. Again Cadman narrowed the margin to one point.

Now Ilkley found themselves up against it as Keighley turned on the pressure but great defensive work and a number of unforced errors kept them out. BJ Fowler latched on to a loose Keighley pass and Cadman kicked long to the home 22. As they tried to run it out of danger Nulty was unlucky to knock on.

Both sides had chances and both sides were called on to mount rearguard actions as the game moved towards half time.

Keighley found it difficult to make passes stick with a very attentive, hard tackling defensive line breathing down their necks. Fowler left the field with a cut mouth. Allan Moffatt replaced him.

Half-time saw Ben Wade replaced by Fred Matthews. From the kick-off Ilkley were rewarded with a penalty and quick-thinking Barley won another ten metres with a tap. Gilbert put the ball into touch on the Keighley 22. The throw was lost but Ilkley had a penalty and Cadman stroked it over for a 12-10 lead.

Now it was Ilkley with their tails up. After Cadman had been scragged into touch Ilkley won back possession to allow Cadman to put up a huge up and under and force a knock-on on the 22. Another drop goal attempt was wide.

A scrum five metres was well won. Moffatt picked up and fed Barley who went over for a try wide out. Ilkley looked on for a surprise with a 17-10 lead and 20 minutes to go.

Inevitably Keighley now mounted the counter but knock-on after knock-on frustrated their efforts. A penalty saved the score but line was again lost.

Now it was a penalty to Keighley after a high, though unintentional, tackle. Keighley won their line and drove on from the 22 to allow the Keighley pack to claim their second try. Harrison made a difficult kick look easy to put the scores level at 17-17.

Keighley tails were now up and Ilkley had to call on all their defensive qualities to hold the league leaders out. One superb tackle by Smith was to be followed by the killer blow as the ball was spun out wide for that man Schofield to be on hand again to score and Harrison bagged the seven points.

Harrison added another penalty before Ilkley came back.

They turned on the pressure and Keighley had endure at nervous last five minutesr. A penalty was the only reward and the Ilkley crowd went away disappointed that their favourites' Herculean effort had been unrewarded yet again.

There is time and sufficient matches to start the long haul back up the table but second from bottom is an uncomfortable place to be.

l Saturday's home fixture with Malton and Norton takes on vital proportions.