Selby expose Keighley's weaknesses

A strong Selby side gave a disappointingly off-form Keighley the runaround for much of this league game on Saturday.

The home side's hard-running forwards and skillful backs always had the edge and only infrequently did the visitors look like mounting a serious challenge.

The first 40 minutes were the more evenly contested, with both sides starting tentatively. An early charge by Leigh Sugden promised well for Keighley and stand off Alex Brown was narrowly wide with a penalty goal attempt.

As Selby's confidence grew, however, they began to play a more expansive game with backs and forwards supporting each other in a series of well-constructed raids on the Keighley line.

Excellent defence by Dave Pullen, Nigel Curr and Danny Lester and a try-saving tackle by full back Mark Beckett restricted the hosts to a single penalty goal by stand off Dan Porter as half-time approached.

A three-point deficit would have given Keighley a realistic hope of a second half come back, but two minutes before the break a slick attack by the Selby backs allowed full back Sam Weller to slide over for a try despite the brave tackle of winger Sam Walker.

Selby had the better of the second half. Their big mobile forwards exposed Keighley's lack of pace and with the backs exploiting a monopoly of possession further tries were quickly added by winger Martin Prothero and the prolific Weller, who brought his season's tally to 13.

Briefly Keighley rallied, Curr finishing off an attack from a tapped penalty with a well taken try, converted by Brown. Sadly it proved to be a false dawn and Selby struck back with a try by replacement Matthew Smith, again from a tapped penalty, to complete the scoring.

Selby exposed Keighley's weaknesses and were much the better side on a day on which the Utley men seemed strangely out of sorts from the start in spite of the efforts of forwards Leigh Sugden, Andy Bennett and Dave Pullen and backs Curr and Lester.