Leodiensians 17 Keighley 12

Keighley fell at the first hurdle of the Yorkshire Shield at Leeds-based Leodiensians, thereby maintaining a familiar lack of success in trophy competitions in recent years.

The game against their opponents from a league below was always a potential banana skin for the side lacking a handful of first-choice players, although it was a contest they could and should have won, if clear scoring chances had been taken.

In wet, gloomy conditions Keighley stand-off Alex Brown was unlucky when his early penalty kick rebounded off the crossbar, but this then heralded a spell of pressure on the visitors’ line, prompted by a break from scrum half Lynch.

The defence held up well and good work by wingman Sam Walker forced play deep into the Leos’ half, from where a series of Keighley raids were repelled by some tigerish tackling by the home side.

In spite of the difficult conditions, both teams showed commendable enterprise in attack.

A fine jinking run by centre Adam Horsfall was halted a yard from the line but Keighley’s forwards followed up smartly.

A short pass by prop Tom Walker allowed No 8 Andy Bennett to touch down from close range, leaving Brown with a simple conversion.

Further scores should have followed.

Hooker Will Armitage failed to exploit a simple overlap with an open line beckoning and scrum half Andy Marklew and Bennett each crossed the line but were unable to ground the ball.

Within minutes of the second-half restart, Leos drew level when good running by their backs led to Lynch touching down and stand-off Winter converting to tie the scores.

Keighley were soon ahead again, centre Scott Dyson and full back Rob Wilkinson combining well to put second row Ian Buckley over in the corner.

Again, however, Leos struck back, exposing a flat-footed Keighley defence as Winter ran in from 40 yards before converting his own try to give his side the lead for the first time.

In deteriorating conditions, Keighley vainly tried to rescue the game, but their adventurous efforts came to nothing in the face of determined defence.

A spilled ball allowed Leos to force play to the Keighley line and superior numbers led to a touchdown from a five-metre maul.

In the final minutes, the Rose Cottage side continued to attack. A good run by Walker was stopped a yard out and they continually threatened the line to the end.

But it was Leos who stole the glory and a place in the next round.

Debutants Tom Walker, Horsfall, and Buckley can all look back with some satisfaction on their contributions. The latter pair have been rewarded with places in the first-team squad for Saturday’s important home derby against Skipton on Saturday.