Division Five: Keighley Albion 28 Hanging Heaton 4

KEIGHLEY Albion went two points clear of Hanging Heaton to take second place in their own right.

The pair had been level on points behind runaway leaders Ovenden but Albion soon seized the initiative, scoring two quick tries inside the first ten minutes.

Tony and Jack Kennedy, along with Chris Price and Mark Smith, were dominant in the forwards. They put up an uncompromising defence against bigger opposite numbers to keep Hanging Heaton on the back foot.

An excellent passing move allowed Chris Spencer to find a gap out wide to open the scoring on his debut and Alfie Seeley added the extras. It was soon followed by a Tony Kennedy try, Seeley again adding the extras as the hosts went in 12-0 up at the break.

The second half didn’t start as well for Keighley as numerous penalties and errors saw Hanging Heaton camped on the home line.

With Jamie Stephenson to the fore, Albion soaked up the pressure but it finally it told as they scored in the corner, though the conversion was missed.

Slick passing earned the hosts their third try as Stephenson found Reece Robertson, who scored in the corner.

Albion dominated the last ten minutes as Joe Preston picked up the loose ball from a charge-down to race 75 metres and put the game to bed, with Seeley converting.

And Keighley had the last say on the final whistle as Alex Young charged 40 metres before offloading to Rick Hollings, who scored under the posts and Seeley tagged on the extras.

The Kennedy brothers and Price stood out for Albion but the man of the match went to Seeley for his great go-forward and for having a hand in all their tries.

Albion are at Halifax Irish on Saturday in the second round of the BARLA National Cup.

Worth Village and Cowling Harlequins’ games were postponed.