The previous league encounter between these two side had seen the Keighley outfit emerge victorious n a game which Pontefract had shown their attacking flair. So Saturday’s encounter was eagerly anticipated by the Moor lane faithful.
Keighley were the first on the score board , using their straight running backs to punch up the middle of the field into Pontefract’s 22 .Strong defence resulted in a loose ball which Pontefract could no t control and from the resulting scrum they were pushed off the ball . Keighley spun the ball wide and their winger finally crossed in the far left corner. The conversion hit the posts in Pontefract’s favour, the score 0-5 after 4 minutes of play Pontefract soon evened things up . A 50 meter break by England U18 fullback Louis Brown was carried on by Johnny Burrow taking play into the opposition. Taking quick ball Glenn Boyd saw space out wide on his right and put in an inch perfect chip kick which was gathered by Sanderson on the bounce then completed a fast dash to touch down in the corner. Boyd’s kick also hit the posts again bouncing out the scores now even.

Keighley then started using their big forwards to maul their way up field and when Pontefract were caught off side the opposition gladly accepted the chance of three points which was converted. Pontefract pack showed they were no slouches at close quarter driving , retrieving a kick of ball they set a maul up driving into the Keighley 22 for Boyd to repeat his chip kick to Sanderson on the wing. This time the winger took the ball on the full to weave his way through defenders for his second of the afternoon.
Their followed a period where neither team could break down the others defence, Keighley favouring strong running direct play and Pontefract a more fast paced interpassing game.

On the 15 minute mark Pontefract turned over ruck ball and Keighley were adjudged to have hands in the ruck. This being in front of the posts , Boyd added the easy penalty to take the score to 13-8.
Minutes later Pontefract were penalised for not releasing in the tackle , Keighley accepted the easy 3 points to pull back to 2 points behind.

On the half hour from a penalty Boyd kicked a good 30 metre touch finder to setup a lineout on the Keighley 5 metre line . What followed was probably the best move seen at Moor Lane all season .Pontefract fed the ball off the top , Josh Walker’s long quick pass released Boyd on a diagonal run drawing defenders across. The move was straightened by Louis Brown who passed back to Boyd on the loop before he offloaded to give Sanderson his hatrick. The extra missed the score 18-11.
Keighley piled on the pressure and spurning penalty chances they went for a try of their own. It paid of f right on the stroke of half time. A series of missed tackles saw them make good yards on the right, the left wing found support on his inside and Keighley crossed for a converted try. Half time score 18-16.

The second half opened with both sides willing to run the ball , which was good for both sets of supporters but with the Pontefract forwards beginning to match their heavier opponents in the scrums and line out some of Keighley’s game plan . Young front row Phil lane, Jonny Hill and Anesh Chaba more than held their own and clever use of Rich Scott , John Fradgley and Rob Stringer in the line out made sure Pontefract backs had plenty of their own ball. Jonny Burrow stopped many Keighley drives off the ruck . This allowed wing forward Beddis to act like an extra back in attack and it was only last gasp cover that stopped number of promising attacks. From one such attack on the hour mark he punched a hole on the Keighley back line before feeding skipper the 22. He fed on to skipper Craig Fawcett who jinked his was into the 22. He freed Sanderson who was caught just short but found his skipper in support to canter over. Boyd added the extras score 25-16.

Minutes later Matthew Bacon on the left wing drove up the touch line side quick ruck ball sent Walker on a jinking run before linking with his back line. Louis Brown joined between the centres and with a shimmy sent defenders both ways opening a gap you could have driven a bus through before crossing near the posts. The extras were added making the score 32-16.
Pontefract then had to weather a torrid 7 minutes as Keighley battered their defence trying to earn a losing bonus point. To their credit the Pontefract players were equal to the task holding out till the final whistle of a game that was hard fought in a good spirit