Wetherby go top with Keighley win

It was a nervy afternoon at Grange Park as Wetherby lined up to take on top of the league, and fellow title contenders, Keighley RUFC. The skies were menacing, as were the Wetherby front row of Woodworth, Hoather and Mason resembling a slightly tubby version of the Three Musketeers. If ever there was a case for ‘one for all and all for one’ then today was it. Wetherby were languishing in Yorkshire 5 not so long ago but improvements on and off the pitch have seen a resurgence the envy of many other teams in the region.

Wetherby kicked off with clear intent, the home side starting on the front foot. Aggressive, focussed and disciplined, putting Keighley under extreme pressure. The first real action started with a line out in the Keighley 22. Hoather to the leaping fish Reid, and a rolling maul ensued. With the Wetherby forwards dominant, they trundled to the try line with Palombo being the first to respond to the ball at the back of the maul and he dotted down for 5 points. 5-0.

Keighley are a talented team and have arguably one of the most talented 10’s in the league in Brown but Wetherby had been working hard in training and the defence in the backs led by the iceberg Adair meant that Keighley had very little time to settle with ball in hand and were soon under the cosh again. The pressure saw cause for the referee to send Keighley second row Inman to the bin for 10 minutes.
With increasing pressure from Wetherby, the ball was whipped out to the winger, Connolly, who made 30 yards cutting inside only to be tackled by the full back on their 22. The 2nd best 10 in the league Harry Kaye was there in support and gladly accepted the pop-up to stroll in under the posts for a 10 point lead. Dixon slotted home the conversion with ease to make the score 12-0.

Keighley were struggling to get a foot in the game but never to be underestimated having run in a couple of 100 point wins this season, from the kick off they drove forward in to the Wetherby 22 where the Wetherby forwards defended resolutely but ultimately conceded a penalty which Brown dispatched for Keighley. 12-3.

Wetherby were dominant in the forwards and demolished the Keighley pack at every scrum. The power of the front three backed up by Johnson, Palombo, Reid, Blakey and Watson have yet to be bettered in the league and the first half finished 12-3 as the sleet and rain came down heavily.

The poor weather didn’t deter the home or away supporters with in excess of 300 cheering on their respective teams although Keighley spent most of the time berating the referee as he carded their captain Horsfall. Despite this Keighley started the second half brighter, yet struggled to find a way through the red wall and Wetherby held their points advantage until they conceded a penalty which Keighley converted 12-6.

With Keighley now within one converted try, Wetherby pushed on with inspiring work in the backs, Parrish, Little and Arundel mopping up every clearance from Keighley and running it back in to the opposition half to set up a period of pressure in the Keighley 22. At any other time in the game Wetherby with a scrum in the opposition 22 would mean try-time but Keighley weren’t out of this yet and defended fiercely, eventually clearing their lines.

With a shoulder injury to Palombo, vice-captain, Carson made a cameo appearance from the bench. Despite the stature of the chap, even he can’t defy the medics and the shoulder injury he has been nursing for most of the season, and was himself subbed off after a significant injury that will need reconstruction in the close season. Hopefully not the last we will be seeing of him. As Wetherby strived to close out the game the impressive Dixon was subbed for the feisty Atherton, and he orchestrated the last 15 minutes impressively. A penalty in front of the posts was converted by Kaye despite the pressure of the occasion, 15-6 and a little breathing space.

From the kick-off Wetherby moved the ball to Arundel at outside centre who powered down the left wing in front of the baying supporters in to the Keighley half and, faced with a two on one, off loaded to Connolly who somehow evaded a double tackle from the Keighley defence to score under the posts. With nerves of steel, Kaye dispatched the conversion, 22-6.

As the final whistle blew there were raucous cheers both on and off the field and a real sense of relief. With Wetherby 1 point ahead at the top of the league on 102 points, they have two games left to seal promotion.