York 3, Keighley 14

While this was never a game to savour, a gritty performance by Keighley earned them their sixth league success in seven games, hoisting them into fifth place and only two points behind third- placed Castleford.

Most attempts at fluent rugby were stifled by an obsessive referee, nine penalties being awarded in the first ten minutes alone.

The first of these came in the second minute, allowing fly half Alex Brown to put the visitors ahead.

York’s efforts all too often found-ered on poor handling in the backs as a forgettable first half progres-sed, but they drew level after 35 minutes with a penalty by fly half Ben Johnson when Keighley were slow to release the ball.

In a rare moment of genuine skill and flair, Keighley went ahead close to half-time.

A neat break by Brown and good recycling work by the forwards at the breakdown led to slick handling by centres Adam Balderstone and Scott Dyson.

Wingman Sam Walker made ex-cellent progress before slipping the ball to supporting full back Rob Wilkinson, who crossed in the corner.

Early in the second half, Brown increased the lead with another penalty goal, but a shoulder injury to second-row man Ian Buckley forced him to retire.

That saw replacement Adam Sugden join Leigh and Oliver on the field for what almost certainly was the first time that three brothers had represented the club in the same game.

Two missed penalty attempts by Johnson added to York’s frustration, while the accurate Brown put Keighley further in control with his third successful kick at goal.

In addition to the home side’s self-inflicted failings, they were repelled by a keen Keighley defence, and Keighley’s line was rarely threatened.

Forwards David Lister and Stuart Inman were solid in the line-outs and Leigh Sugden and Will Armitage were a constant thorn in York’s side.

Keighley could not, however, find a way past keen York tacklers and they failed to convert their overall superiority into extra points.

With the season at its halfway stage, Keighley can look back with satisfaction on their progress so far, particularly after a poor start in which they lost three of the first four games.

They will be keen to avenge a comprehensive defeat at Dinnington when the sides clash again at Utley on Saturday.