Scarborough 18 Keighley 0
Keighley flattered to deceive at Scarborough, when for the opening 30 minutes they played some of their best rugby of he season. During this period they could, and perhaps should, have built up a potentially match-winning lead, but as so often in their troubled season their finishing let them down.
The late unavailability of full back Mark Beckett and second row forward Rob Clarke, plus replacements Evan Griffin and Will Armitage, deprived the side of key players but this counted for nothing in an impressive start.
Wingman Nigel Curr and flanker Andy Bennett made good progress with some aggressive running before a sweeping attack by backs and forwards ended with the ball being spilled a the line.
Centres Adam Balderstone and Rob Wilkinson combined well and handled skilfully and were well served by stand off Alex Brown, whilst forwards Rob Ellis, Leigh Sugden and Paul Sinfield continually carried play to the opposition.
As half-time approached, however, the first cracks began to appear in Keighley's structure. Only a fine tackle by Kevin Bottomley halted a dangerous Scarborough raid. Other attacks failed as a result of poor handling, before sustained pressure ended with prop Jamie Drayton forcing his way over for the first score.
A penalty goal by stand off Bullen increased the home lead early in the second half and thereafter Keighley's scoring chances were few.
With a strong Southern hemisphere representation in their line-up, Scarborough increasingly gained the upper hand and went further ahead with a pushover try by No 8 Terrblanche from a five-metre scrum.
Keighley defended bravely but any lingering chance of a comeback evaporated when in quick succession forwards Ellis and Dave Pullen were sent to the sin bin for killing the ball. Scarborough took full advantage of their numerical superiority, out flanking the Keighley defence for the final try by wingman Fairbairn.
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