KEIGHLEY Albion are one game away from a potential promotion in the Yorkshire Men’s League, having made the final by default.

They topped the Division Three table, with 11 wins from their 12 games, and were due to face fellow Bradford District side Wyke in the play-off semis.

But with third-placed Cutsyke Raiders pulling out of the end-of-season lottery, Wyke, who ended up fourth, will now be taking on second-placed Hull Wyke this weekend, with the winner to face Keighley in the final at the start of October.

Albion topped the table by five points, so will be favourites in the showpiece whoever goes through, and their chairman Richard Dibbin hopes they can finish the job off for a deserved promotion.

He said: “It’s been a good season, and we were looking forward to that semi-final this weekend, before Cutsyke dropped out of the play-offs.

“But we’re excited to face Wyke or Hull Wyke in the promotion final now, which will take place at Batley Bulldogs’ ground on, I believe, Sunday, October 2.”

Keighley thoroughly deserved to come top, with Dibbin saying: “We were very pleased with our performances, and ended up as the top scorers, as well as conceding the least points, in the division.

“It’s been brilliant, and a lot of credit has to go to our new head coach Josh Ireland and his staff.

“Josh has been around at Albion since he was a junior, and now he’s become head coach of the open age side, he’s really turned things around.

“All the lads really want to play for him.”

Last year, Albion were arguably too highly-placed in Division One, and struggling to put a team out at times, they failed to complete the 2021 season.

Discussing the turnaround, Dibbin said: “There’s a feelgood factor here now, and in Keighley rugby league in general.

“It’s been a fantastic year for the sport in this town, with both us and Keighley Cougars topping our respective leagues.

“Last year, we tried something different with a new coach in Dean Buckler, who’d done a bit out in Australia.

“But we started the season in a high division and it just didn’t work out at all.

“We couldn’t put our finger on exactly what went wrong, but we lost players too.

“We requested to drop down to Division Three so there was a chance to start again, giving Josh the chance to work up.

“He’s changed a few things and as I said, everyone wants to play for him and the club.”

Promotion and relegation isn’t always linear in the Yorkshire Men’s League, but Dibbin said: “It’s not decided yet, and we’ll have to discuss it, but we’re hoping to go up to Division Two if we win the final.

“It should be a great occasion for Albion at Batley, as we’ve put in a request to the Bulldogs to see if we can bring our junior sides along to come and watch the game.

“After going back to the drawing board ahead of this season, we’re in a good place now, and we want to move our way up the leagues.”