Keighley 12 York 7

This match was expected to be hard-fought after Keighley had won at York in November by scoring in the last minute.

So it proved but the Rose Cottage side came through it to climb to sixth in the table.

Both teams had been forced to make several changes from the last time they had met because of injuries and the omens were not helped when Keighley’s Danny Lester strained a muscle in the warm-up.

Committed to attack, York ran the ball quickly when Keighley were penalised.

Sadly, York’s James Geldart suffered a serious leg injury in the fifth minute and an ambulance was required, Ollie Coucel coming on as substitute. Geldart was reported to be recovering well in hospital.

York continued to press and it was not until the 15th minute following good clearance kicks by Alex Brown and Nigel Kerr that Keighley first gained possession in the opposition half.

Within minutes, Brown made a fine kick to touch in the York 22. The visitors infringed at the line-out, Keighley won the scrum and quick passing put Nathan Thornton through for a try in the corner.

York went on the attack but again sound tackling and fine relieving kicks stopped them getting near. Keighley were also winning a good share of the line-outs and it was from one that good handling and running produced a fine try in the 27th minute by Will Armitage, converted by Brown.

York came close to hitting back but were thwarted by a forward pass. They had a penalty chance from within the Keighley 22 but Paul Williams was wide of the mark.

In the 36th minute, a Keighley attack was halted by an elbow injury to Armitage, who was replaced by James Tillotson.

York pressed hard but home captain Lee Sugden led the defence brilliantly, aided by good handling and running by Brown and Kerr.

A grand kick and chase well into the York half by Tillotson raised hopes but the curse struck again when John Currie suffered a leg injury, with Tom Hagyard coming on as replacement.

The second half started with a series of handling errors, causing frustration, and the referee David Hurst had to speak to both captains.

More injuries followed – Matthew Langstaff, whose running had impressed, came off with a leg problem (replaced by Tom Kubran) and Adam Joblin had to come on for York prop Matt Young.

The visitors pressed hard but handling errors and good tackling, not least by the hosts’ replacements, held them back.

The York pack were hurled off the ball at a scrum which gave Sugden the opportunity for one of his battering-ram charges.

However, in the fifth minute of time added on, York took advantage of a rare lapse of concentration by Keighley and Sam Potrykus scored in the corner. Paul Williams was successful with a fine conversion kick into the wind, which proved to be the last kick of the game as the Utley side took the points.

Keighley take on Selby in a rearranged home game this Saturday but will be without Matthew Langstaff, John Currie (both hamstring), Danny Lester (groin) and Craig Spencer (shin splints).

SELECTED SIDES Keighley First XV (home to Selby, kick-off 2:15pm, meet 12:45pm) from: N Curr; M Brett, M Beckett, S Dyson, J Tillotson, N Jordan; A Brown, A Marklew, A Bal-derstone; R Leach, N Thornton, P Sinfield, R Clarke, M Feather, W Armitage, S Inman, A Bennett, L Sugden, D Pullen.

Keighley Second XV (home to Old Crossleyans Seconds, kick-off 2.15pm, meet 1pm) from: B Atkinson, M Finn, A Horsfall, M Lockwood, L Carter, B Barker; Britland, K Bottomley; G Fletcher, J Day, T Walker, T Hagyard, C Dyson, C Wright, J Walker, J Hannah, A Waligura, S Long, S Welch.

Keighley Third XV (home to Old Otlien-sians Thirds, kick-off 2.15pm, meet 1pm): J Blackburn; S Walker, D Cervenak, P Salmon, J Morton; J Kubran, L Uren; C Dyson, R Lloyd, S Heald, I Buckley, R Bayfield, D Walsh, A Sugden, P Schofield. Replacements: M Harrison, M Calvert, R Whitehead, C Morris, E Walker, B Varley, S Brown, M Symes, M Hagyard, M Kenrick, P Olsson.