Alex Brown provided further evidence he is fighting fit last weekend after being one of three Keighley players to contract glandular fever during the summer.

The fly half played an important role in his side’s 32-5 home victory over North Ribblesdale last Saturday, which pushed the Rose Cottage outfit up to third place in SSE Yorkshire Division One.

Hooker Will Armitage and centre Ben Blackwell were the other two players to come down with the illness. Armitage has also recovered, scoring Keighley’s first try against Ribb, but Blackwell has been worst affected. He is nowhere near strong enough to think of a comeback yet.

Brown landed two penalties and three conversions, and generally had the visitors’ defence on the back foot.

He has recovered so well from his illness that he celebrated a mate’s birthday by taking part in the Otley Run on Saturday night, dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Leonardo.

Complete with green face paint and tucking into his post-match spaghetti bolognese, Brown said: “There are a few theories as to how we have caught it.

“We all live in Oxenhope, so that could be something to do with it, while another theory is that we got it from using the same club water bottles as it is passed by saliva.”

Brown added: “I found out about it three months ago. I had some tests and my doctor confirmed it was glandular fever.

“My employers, Rotherwood Recruitment in Keighley, have been really good about me taking time off, and once I got the all clear from my doctor to resume rugby, I did so.”

The 22-year-old was back in his normal fly-half role last weekend but has been playing at full back while Danny McGee wore the No 10 shirt.

“I don’t mind where I play,” said Brown. “I would play at prop if that is what Keighley want.”

Skippers Leigh Sugden, who scored the try that earned Keighley their late bonus point last weekend, and Dan Watson (North Ribblesdale) were named as the respective men of the match.

Yorkshire Shield matches take place on Saturday but Keighley have no game as they are already out of the competition, having been beaten by Skipton at home in August.