Crusaders 5, Old Crossleyans 9 - Crusaders remain rooted at the bottom of the league but can gain some consolation from this latest defeat. Lacking a handful of first choice players, the side played with rare spirit and conviction and on balance just about deserved to take the points.

On a day when the driving rain and wind made goal kicking a lottery the steady boot of Crossleyans' young stand off Richard Jowett was the decisive factor although it must be said that his kicks were from much easier positions than those attempted by Crusaders' full back Gary Davy, one of which rebounded out off a post.

Jowett's first success came in the second minute of play as Keighley's midfield backs strayed offside in front of their posts, a similar lack of concentration leading to at least one more successful kick by Jowett later in the game. The side simply cannot afford to press the self destruction button so regularly.

Crusaders pack was, however, in fine form in spite of conceding a significant weight and height advantage. Second row men Peter Southgate and Michael Feather impressed with some spirited running and the back row of Mark Lister, Tyrone Adam and Andrew Bennett harassed and tackled relentlessly, with Bennett having his best game to date. He is now adjusting to the extra pace of first team rugby and is certainly a player for the future.

Good work by forwards Feather and Adam paved the way for Crusaders' try. Play was driven into the visitors' 22 metre area. A hurried clearance kick was charged down by wingman Nick Wright who kept his head and displayed his soccer talents by controlling the ball and tapping on to score.

Crossleyans' big forwards were well marshalled by Keighley as they attempted to muscle their way through with a style often more appropriate to Cougar Park than Rose Cottage. It was, however, a style of play largely forced upon them by the relentlessly wet conditions. Neither side risked playing an expansive game and the few attempts by the backs to run and pass usually ended in predictable failure.

Keighley should, however, have used the cross-field wind to greater effect and when trapped in their own half often chose to keep the ball in hand when long kicks to the corner might have been a more judicious tactic. The visitors finished the first half strongly and a second penalty goal by Jowett from in front of the posts gave them the narrowest of leads at the break.

The second half was as competitive as the first in spite of the ever worsening weather. Scoring chances were few but the clearest fell to Keighley when they finally lost possession almost on the Crossleyans' line after a fine driving attack by the forwards. Davy was weak with a penalty goal attempt for Crusaders and Jowett came nowhere near with an ambitious effort for Crossleyans. He had the final word, however, with a late penalty goal, again from in front of the posts, to seal Keighley's fate.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.