Keighley snap worst losing run in five years to beat Wath

But the result was not a certainty until the final 20 minutes, when the home side’s fitness and speed finally subdued a strong Wath team.

Wath had the majority of possession in the early stages of the game, but a Keighley scrum deep in their own half on six minutes led to a brilliant 70m run from Taylor Prell, who evaded the entire visiting defence to score a superb try in the right corner.

The tricky conversion in strong winds was missed by fly half Alex Brown, with Wath quickly hitting back with a score from their winger after good work from a penalty and a maul.

From the restart, the ball was superbly claimed by Keighley’s Max Wild and a series of powerful forward drives and fast hands through the backs created a further opening for Prell to break the defensive line on 18 minutes.

Despite already crossing the line, he chose to offload to captain Alfie Seeley to score Keighley’s second try again the difficult conversion being missed.

The rest of the half was relatively dull and neither side added to the scoring, but Seeley was in the bad books just before the break when Wath put together a quick attack.

The home skipper was only able to halt the opposition illegally and was handed a yellow card for his troubles, but his side still led 10-5 at half-time.

Keighley did enjoy one good move while down to 14 men, but a knock on near the line halted their progress, with Wath’s backs combining after good work from the No.5 to score a second try early in the second half.

While they missed the conversion to go in front, the visitors did take the lead with a 35-metre penalty.

Keighley were back level at 13-13 within a minute of going behind through a penalty from Alex Brown and they now seemed to move up a couple of gears.

Alex Brown started to find his range with the boot as the game wore on. (Image: John Ashton.)

They were helped by one of Wath’s centres being sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.

Brown kicked the subsequent penalty to the 22 metre line, which was well taken at the lineout, and a superb maul from the Keighley pack took the ball over the line.

That meant a well-deserved try for hooker Jake Parkinson, with Brown adding the conversion.

Moments later, No.8 Tom Whyte stole a Wath line out, Adam Kemp made good ground before quick hands from Adam Horsfall and Sean Kelly took the ball to Prell on the halfway line.

The speedster broke through the Wath cover to run in another superb try from 50 metres, which was converted by Brown to put Keighley into a 27-13 lead.

Taylor Prell scored a couple of superb tries in Keighley's win. (Image: John Ashton.)

The determined Wath side were not finished yet though and a series of penalties gave them a five-metre lineout.

Keighley’s defence kept them out initially before an excellent break from the full back allowed the No.8 to dive through the Keighley line to score Wath’s third try.

The conversion was missed, but the visitors were now only nine points behind.

Both sides had half-chances to get on the scoreboard next, but eventually, Keighley began to put on relentless pressure.

Wath were unable to clear their lines and after a series of powerful drives scrum half Nathan Pickles picked up at the back of the ruck and dived through the defence for Keighley’s fifth try, which was converted by Brown.

A handling error by the visitors Wath saw the ball knocked forward to replacement Keighley winger Sam Blakeley 25 metres out.

His rapid acceleration and swerving run opened up the Wath defence and he scored an excellent solo try under the posts, with Brown again converting.

Soon after, a quick tap penalty from the hosts saw the ball moved to the left, where Seeley took the ball at speed from Pickles and ran in from 30 metres to end the scoring and seal a great win.

Keighley do not have a game this coming weekend, but will return to action at Harrogate Pythons on Saturday, November 30.

REPORT BY TONY BURNS