Keighley 30 Bank Top 20

Keighley got back to winning ways in the Pennine League Premier Division with a much-needed two points against fellow-promoted side Bank Top Harriers.

The home side got off to a good start playing up the slope and took just five minutes to open the scoring through winger Alex Young.

It came off some good lead-up play, sending the ball from the right-hand side all the way to the left, with Joe Copperwaite giving a lovely final pass to Young and Copperwaite adding the extras from wide out.

Keighley, who had some improving to do from their last hit-out, took control with some strong running and defence.

On ten minutes Copper-waite broke the Bank Top line and raced 50 metres, only to be caught on the 60- metre mark. The ball was moved to the right to winger Paul Bradwell, who off-loaded to Gav Duffy to race 40 metres to the line, Copperwaite goaling.

The visitors hit back on the 20-minute mark. Having had no joy down Keighley’s right-hand side defence, they made inroads down the left, with their centre crashing over through some poor defence to make it 12-6.

Keighley controlled the ball better than in their last few games and this helped them by not having to defend as much.

And with that bit more energy, the home side’s Chris Price was a thorn in Bank Top’s side. On one break he fed the ball inside to Rob Spencer, who again made some good yards to lay on a try for Luke Moorby. He crossed under the posts and Copperwaite did the rest.

The lead was extended when Danny Barrett ran from dummy half on halfway and fed the ball inside to the supporting Copperwaite to go in under the posts and make the extras easy.

The Bradford visitors had the last word of the half when they crossed the line, again finding the home side’s left-hand side short of numbers, to make the interval score 24-12.

The second half saw the Harriers take control of field position and, with a little help from the home side, who gave the ball away with errors and penalties, they were the first to cross – again through there big centre.

Keighley could not complete their sets and Bank Top capitalised to cross the line again following some soft defence.

The Bradford outfit could not add to their points and Keighley started to look after the ball again.

They had the last word when, from a play-the-ball, Price ghosted through the defensive line to cross under the sticks, Callum Hudson adding the extras.

Keighley travel to another promoted side in West Bowling on Saturday (2pm).