Keighley Albion 23

Millom 2

ALBION finally clinched their first league win of the seson -- on the day they pulled out of the National Conference.

They saved the best till last and blew away the challenge of Millom in their final home league game of the season.

Millom had the better of the early exchanges as they sprayed the ball about in cavalier fashion on the large Cougar Park pitch. They took the lead when Albion committed the usual sin by giving away a penalty for a head high tackle in front of the posts.

Millom's hooker Graham Lupton converted the penalty.

The Keighley side stuck to their guns and a storming run from Ben Farrar.

Ian Spencer and Adam Lilley were making good yards to help set up a platform for the backs and Andy Parker used all his experience to send Chris Atkins in. Kris Kirk added the goal to give Albion a 6-2 lead.

Mark Adams was dictating play for Albion from the stand off role both through the forwards and the backs. However Millom were not beaten yet and more good play from Dave Nugent and Paul Lupton took them close. Albion's defence was sound with Steve Wrench and Ben Farrar in the thick of the action.

Farrar went close again following another storming run, this time Albion were not going to be denied and a high bomb from Mark Adams was put to ground and the ever alert Steve Wrench was on hand to scoop up the loose ball before sending in Kris Kirk for a try under the posts. Kirk also added the goal.

Playing down the slope in the second half Albion were soon on the attack and increased their lead when Millom were penalized for a head high tackle. Kris Kirk converted the goal to stretch the lead to 14-2 within minutes of the re-start.

More Albion pressure was rewarded when Kris Kirk booted over a drop goal to increase Albion's lead.

Millom's Paul Lupton and Tony Dixon were always looking for gaps in the Albion defence but were kept at bay with some sound defensive play by Martin Fryers and Kris Kirk.

Albion then turned defence into attack and on the last tackle of the set Mark Adams coolly dropped a goal. Simon Marsden back from injury was proving a hard player to stop when in full flight and caused the Millom defenders big problems when he ran from deep positions taking on all comers, and this set up a platform for another attack that ended with another Mark Adams drop goal to make the score Albion 17-2.

But the biggest cheer went up in the 65th minute when Biddy chased a lost-cause ball into the Millom 10 metre area only to see the visitors winger Andy Walker fumble the ball allowing him to send Kris Kirk on a run across the back of the posts to score. Kirk also tagged on the goal to put Albion firmly in control with the score board showing Albion with a 23-2 lead.

There were big games from man of the match Mark Adams and players-players Steve Wrench and Ben Farrar.

It had been a game with everything included with both sides playing attractive open rugby, but Milloms bigger pack had succumbed to Albion's six, who had set the platform for a well earned first win to record two points on the final league table.

Greetland All Rounders 26

Keighley Albion 'A' 36

In unusual mild weather for the top of the Pennines at Greetland, Albion came back from a poor first half to show that they had the staying power to win.

It didn't start off with the Keighley side looking weak. James Feather was bossing from acting half back and tackling ferociously in the middle. On 9 minutes Richard Blackburn sent Steve Cullen through a small gap 50m out and the stand-off was unlucky to not clear the full-back. This lead to a penalty for holding down in the tackle and it took a strong, accurate kick from Dean Condren to give Albion an early start.

This didn't last long. Penalties for Greetland took them down the pitch and it wasn't long before a converted try occurred. Weak Albion tackling and more penalties lead to 2 more tries being leaked until Craig Livock used a clean break to put Richard Blackburn away. Shortly after this a short ball from Glen Palmer put Livock straight over by the posts. Dean Condren converted to make the score at the break 16-8.

The restart went as bad as possible for Albion. Greetland kicked off, Albion knocked on. From the scrum the home centre just ran through over 20m to score under the posts. The conversion was a formality.

However the Keighley side hit back. Craig Livock made another clean break and though he was hauled down short the confusion in the Greetland defence meant that Glen Palmer could stroll over in the corner. Dean Condren added the difficult conversion. Shortly after, Richard Blackburn went through and then passed to send Craig Livock over from 10m out. Dean Condren again converted.

Albion were only 2 points adrift now and were all over Greetland. A long Chris Brookes pass put Dean Condren in at the corner but the referee called it forward. Craig Livock made a clean break but his pass to put Scott Belamy clear was wayward.

On 69 minutes, Simon Kelk and Chris Brookes showed their experience when clever passing and running between them put Kelk clear. However the player-coach showed his age and the need to stick to coaching by being caught 20m out. This again lead to disarray in the home defence and a long pass from Richard Blackburn gave Garry Boocock the space to go in the corner. Dean Condren easily hit the difficult conversion.

The showboating moment then followed. Wayne Fradley, playing his debut for Albion, made a 20m break from deep in his half and released Richard Blackburn clear with 50m to go. The cover caught up with him and made a lot of high tackles but he ducked under and shot round them all to go in by the posts. Dean Condren converted. Richard Blackburn made it a brace of tries, running onto a short pass from Glen Palmer. No conversion but with 5 minutes to go it hardly mattered. Greetland did manage a consolation try at the death.

This Saturday Albion are at home to Stainland at Highfield.