Saturday 1st December 2001
KELLOGG`S NUTRI - GRAIN CHALLENGE CUP 1^st ROUND
KEIGHLEY ALBION 10 EASTMOOR DRAGONS 44

Albion played hosts to Wakefield side Eastmoor Dragons in the 1^st round of the Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Challenge Cup, looking to cause an upset.

Fielding another much changed side Albion were the first to settle and in their first attack Mark Kellett and Keith Dixon combined to send Rob Bailey in for a try in the corner, the goal attempt was off the target but Albion had taken a 4 nil lead over the Dragons in the 2^nd minute of the game.

The Keighley side were looking for more points and another attack took them into the Dragons half, but the Dragons were caught offside and Keith Dixon slotted over a 35metre penalty goal to increase Albion’s lead to 6 points to the Dragons nil after 7 minutes. The Dragons then got themselves on to the score board when Albion were penalized for holding down and John Hirst kicked the penalty goal to show a score of Albion 6 points –Dragons 2 on the 12^th minute mark.

In the next attack from the Dragons Albion were again penalised for holding down in the tackle and the unfortunate victim Steve Wrench was put in the sin bin for 10 minutes. This then allowed the Dragons to take hold of the game, as winger Craig Miles went on a weaving cross field run evading Albion defenders to score a try just wide of the posts, John Hirst added the goal to put his team in front by 6 points to 8 in the 15^th minute.

Albion, with Keith Dixon in control on the park, repeatedly pushed the Dragons back into a defensive position with an excellent display of kicking, but the home side fouled it up again when they were penalized again in the Dragons 22 metre area. This penalty led to a further score to the Dragons as hooker Ross Stephenson’s diagonal run allowed him to send Craig Miles in for his 2^nd try of the game, the goal attempt was off the mark but it was now Albion 6 points – Dragons 12 on 20 minutes.

Albion were unfortunate to lose the influential Keith Dixon in the 26^th minute with a rib injury and he played no further part in the game. Jim Coldwell and Martin Fryers were working hard for Albion both in attack and defence, but ill discipline again let Albion down. Albion were further punished for this as the Dragons scored again as full back Matt Rogers broke Albion’s line before sending prop Phil Marshall in for a try by the posts, John Hirst kicked the goal to give the Dragons an 6 – 18 lead in the 31^st minute. This was also the half time score in a half that had started well for Albion but by conceding 9 penalties they had given the initiative back to the Dragons, but it was still there to play for at half time. Half time score Albion 6 points – Dragons 18 points.

At the start of the 2^nd half Albion had to make changes to their formation again, this seemed to give the Dragons more hope as sub Paul Lister scored a try following his diagonal run for the try line, there were no extra’s to add but it was now 6 points to 22 in the 46^th minute.

The Keighley side were trying all they knew in an attempt to get back into the game with Mark Kellett and Craig Livock in the thick of things, but it was not to be as a counter-attack from the Dragons saw them score again as Ross Stephenson’s short ball to John Nicholson meant the prop scored a try by the posts, John Hirst added the goal to show the score line of Albion 6 points the Dragons 28 in the 51^st minute.

Albion fought back into an attacking position when Kris Kirk and Rob Bailey combined but poor handling let them down. The Keighley side were again punished for the mistake when from the scrum in the Dragons 22 area a long kick down field by John Hirst saw Phil Hodgson win the foot race to score a try in the corner, no goal from this attempt but the Dragons had increased there lead with a score line of Albion 6 – Dragons 32 in the 57^th minute.

Albion then went further behind when they failed to do the basics as the Dragons open play split the defensive line and this allowed Chris Hayward to score a try, again no goal but it was 6 points to 36 in the Dragons favour on the 64^th minute. The home side then had a good passage of play through Jim Coldwell that saw Mark Kellett chip over the Dragons defence and this allowed Kris Kirk to dive on the loose ball for a try in the corner, the goal attempt was way of the mark but it had lifted Albion’s hopes with a score line of Albion 10 points to the Dragons 36 in the 68^th minute.

The visitors hit back from this when Jimmy Ganley put centre Mick Trei in for a short-range try, no goal from this but the Dragons were 10 – 40 in front on 75 minutes. Albion then suffered anther blow when Mark Kellett was sent off for dissent. From the penalty the Dragons Phil Hodgson scored the final try of the game, no goal to add but it was 10- 44 to the Dragons on 78 minutes.

It had been an error-strewn game as Albion gave away 16 penalties and this was basically their downfall, good displays from debutant Matt Robinson, Jim Coldwell and Steve Wrench were Albion’s better performers. The official Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Cup Man of the Match award went to the Dragons prop Phil Marshall, with John Hirst and Paul Lister having strong games.

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