Keighley Sport

On-song defence lays platform for Keighley win

By Connor Murphy

12:50pm Thursday 11th March 2010

Heath 15 Keighley 17

Keighley had the edge up front in an excellent game of open, committed rugby. This was reflected in their field position for the first hour, but Heath finished strongly and felt they should have avenged their 16-10 defeat at Utley.

Keighley started well, Alex Brown shaving a goalpost with a penalty, and they came close to scoring in the first ten minutes from a line-out close to the Heath line but the ball was knocked on.

The visiting forwards dominated the scrums. However, their endeavours did not convert into points.

Heath weathered the storm and began to use their talented outside half Giles Hetherington to bring powerful former rugby league player Martin Moana into play.

Well-executed back play led to the home side taking the lead, Moana muscling his way through and fidning full back Ben Littlewood in support, who crossed for an unconverted try wide out.

Keighley quickly returned to the attack and an excellent move, started by the impressive Sam Walker, found Mark Beckett in support, his pace enabling him to slice through the Heath defensive line to set up captain Leigh Sugden, who scored near the posts, Brown converting.

Heath promptly regained the lead, Hetherington dancing his way through the Keighley backs before passing to Moana, who drove for the line. Although tackled, he managed to slip the ball to fellow centre Luke Clogher, who just made it to the line before the cover, Littlewood converting.

The Keighley pack – youngsters ably supported by Dave Lister and Dave Pullen – moved up a gear, and their energy overpowered Heath at the breakdowns, giving the backs plenty of quick ball.

Brown, with quality possession, was in his element. In the opposition 22, he looked to pass the ball infield before slicing through the defence to link with prop Olly Sugden, who produced a great off-load to send centre Scott Dyson under the posts, Brown converting.

The second half was broken up by numerous injuries but, Heath, knowing their forwards were losing the battle, attacked through the middle or wide out.

They took the lead on the hour when an attack was halted illegally, Littlewood landing the penalty to put them 15-14 up.

But Keighley’s defence was in form and Brown’s well-struck pen-alty sailed over from near halfway.

Heath threw everything they had at Keighley, but, with Littlewood off the field, missed three penalties. On Saturday, Keighley host Selby.

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