Keighley Albion youngsters cure travel sickness with victory

ALBION earned their second victory in a row and their first away win in almost 18 months with an ultimately comfortable triumph over the bottom side.

With the hosts being competitive in their last fixture against high-flying West Bowling, the message was to start fast and in the first defensive set they pinned the Lions back. But an early error in their own set allowed Featherstone to post the first points.

Albion came straight back and, after keeping hold of possession, spread the ball really well for Lewis Bloodworth to dot down.

Keighley were in control and worked the ball wide beautifully with Riley Corby’s superb cut-out ball allowing Billy Lee to coast in at the corner. Caleb McConville added a superb conversion. Lee should have his second moments later but the pass to him from Ben McParland was judged forward.

Albion started the second half fast and, after some good interplay between Josh Dickerson and Harrison Clamp, Dickerson took the return offload and crashed over, with McConville adding the extras.

Keighley put the game to bed when Reece Smollen, who had earlier made an incisive break to begin the half, took advantage of a roll on from the visitors to ghost over under the sticks, with McConville again adding the extras.

With ten minutes left, the game which had previously been played in good spirit turned ugly with a brawl leading to Zak Ensink being sent off and Corby sin-binned, although strangely nobody from the hosts were removed from the field. Their numerical advantage saw them post a consolation.

Lee had another try controversially disallowed but Albion were worthy winners. The hosts nominated McParland, Corby and Lee as the top performers but the whole team carried out their roles with distinction.

Albion head into their next game at home to Brotherton, who have lost their last two games, with confidence they can chalk up another win and confirm their Division Two status.