Whilst only the second match of the season, many at Grange Park couldn’t help thinking that this match could shape the league positions at the end of the season. Keighley were brilliant last season yet Wetherby chased them right to the end and proved that they deserved to be at the top table. However there’ll need to be improvements on today’s performance to ensure those expectations are fulfilled.

Despite the searing 28 degree heat, Wetherby started on the front foot with Acland being the first to many breakdowns and Ward sniping at every opportunity. Director of Rugby, Geoff Brown was looking pensive on the sidelines gently stroking his burgeoning grey goatee. Clearly this was a very important game.

The referee had spoken beforehand about the impact of the new tackling laws before the game and Kaye (sponsored by Vac Form Group) was the first to be penalised despite it appearing more like a flailing hand than a tackle. Shortly after this Wetherby gave away another penalty and Brown, the top scorer for Keighley stepped up from the half way line to comfortably send it through the sticks for a 0-3 lead.

Keighley again gained possession but Youlden and Little (S) were on to them quickly and forced the knock on and scrum to Wetherby. Booker and Heys of Keighley were very big lads but the cohesive scrum that Wetherby has built were more than a match over the whole of game with Kitching in for Hoather who was AWOL in his T5.
In the first real demonstration of flowing rugby Gilbert, sponsored by Local Renewable Services, took the first phase and smashed in to the Keighley defensive line, Youlden scampered up to the back of the maul like an eager puppy and offloaded to Oates (sponsored by Normanton) who left Kaye (H) to run his line and spun a pass out to Chaffer on the wing, delighting the supporters in front of the newly developed stand. Chaffer was off and were it not for a high tackle and subsequent yellow for the Keighley player, he may have scored. But it was coming, and as is Wetherby’s usual modus operandi, a rolling maul ended with Woodworth dotting over the line. Conversion dispatched by Yates (sponsored by Deep Blue telecom) and Wetherby were 7-3 up.

Wetherby looked dominant in the forwards and the backs were starting to fire with Oates, Kay, Little and Chaffer working well together. Yates was seeing plenty of the ball with the ever effective 10 of Keighley able to relieve the Wetherby pressure with his right foot. But despite Wetherby’s apparent dominance it was the discipline that let them down, conceding another penalty within striking distance for Brown who punished the Wetherby faithful again with another kick straight through the posts. Score 7-6.

And despite some great runs from the centres, Keighley seemed to put the home side back in their half or 22 regularly and put them under more pressure. And that pressure told with a scrum to Keighley deep in the Wetherby half that was ruthlessly executed and a try in the corner followed. Conversion missed. Score 10-11 and Half Time.
Meanwhile, on the adjacent pitch, Wetherby 2’s were coasting against Keighley 2’s. With the scoreline 26-7 at half time, Wetherby turned on the style in the 2nd half with Harry Williams expertly marshalling the occasion and popping up with a try.

The second half for the 1sts saw a number of changes with Land, Adair (sponsored by Komi Group) and Little (J) entering the fray. But the half never really got going for Wetherby. Despite some industrious work by Mason, Land et al, and a limited amount of flair from the backs, Wetherby conceded far too many infringements and whilst Keighley were not looking particularly outstanding, they were showing that their discipline in the key moments would be the difference.

Wetherby’s penalty count was racking up and errors were creeping in to the lineouts despite Reid’s (sponsored by Leeds Electrical & Mechanical) usual infallibility in the air, which enabled Keighley to get on the front foot. Another infringement in front of the posts by Wetherby and Keighley increased their lead to 10-14.

And as the game headed in to the last 5 minutes Wetherby flagrantly threw away possibly their best opportunity in the Keighley 22 to win the game. Wetherby had a scrum towards the right wing, the back line ready to take advantage. Greenwood, Woodworth and the forwards went through the phases with organsied rucks, seemingly setting up the opportunity perfectly. But sadly the critical pass out to Acland (sponsored by Westmoreland Cars) was too low, too fast and forward of him and despite his Inspector Gadget arms, even he couldn’t catch it cleanly.
An industrious performance by Wetherby and yet again, clinical kicking by Keighley meant that they ran out 14-10 winners.

Much for Wetherby to ponder!

Wetherby 2’s ran out 85-12 winners.

Man of the Match, Bryn Kitchin, sponsored by Fraser Kitchin Personal Training – tailored training experiences.