Saturday 16th February 2002
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIV 2
KEIGHLEY ALBION 6 MILFORD MARLINS 42

After an enforced 2 week lay off Albion were back in action at Cougar Park with Milford Marlins from Leeds as their opponents who are currently 3^rd in the division.

Albion again fielding a much changed team started off brightly, but it was the visitors who scored first when some good midfield play was rewarded when full back Paul Coates joined the attacking line to score in the corner, there was no goal from this attempt but it was Albion nil to Milford's 4 in the 4^th minute.

Playing down the slope Albion put pressure on the Milford defence and forced them to kick the ball dead. From the drop out Albion came back on the attack from the halfway line and Andy Parkers deft pass to Andy Bowness saw him split the Marlins defence before he sent Dean Brookes in for a very good try, Andy Bowness added the goal to put Albion 6 points to Milord’s 4 in the lead on the 10 minute mark.

It was nip and tuck as both teams looked for openings.  For Albion it was John Gwilliam who was at the heart of everything both in attack and defence along with Steve Wrench and Ben Farrar. But it was Milford who scored again when centre Chris Smith broke Albion’s line before sending winger Mike Moran on a try scoring run for the line, David Bray added the goal to make the score Albion 6 – Milford 10 on 18 minutes.

The Keighley side came back again in to the attack and following good runs both Ed Billings and Rob Bailey were held up just short of the try line. Albion then conceded a penalty for holding down in the tackle and David Bray made no mistake with the goal kick to increase the Marlins lead by 6 points to 12 on 22 minutes.

Albion came back again and from a deep kick out of defence Simon Marsden firstly caught the high ball before going on a storming 50 metre run before the Milford defenders hauled him down on the 22 metre line, sadly Albion could not capitalise on this good field position. Andy Parker was causing the Marlins problems in defence with his foraging runs out wide. But Albion were punished for an alleged late tackle by John Gwilliam in the 36^th minute that saw him depart to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. 

However Albion’s 12 men held out possibly finishing the stronger of the teams as in the last minute a deft chip over the top of the Milford defence caused problems.  They managed to kick the ball dead, from the drop out the half time whistle went with the score at Albion 6 points – Milford 12. It was all to play for as Albion had created many chance but had failed to capitalise on them, Milford on the other hand had created 2 and scored from them both, but it had been a keenly fought half that promised more in the second period.
HALF TIME ALBION 6 – MILFORD 12.

Albion introduced both Wayne Smith and Martin Fryers into action at the start of this half, and from the kick off he picked up the ball before charging up the touch line side with a forceful run, but the attack fizzled out as Albion failed to control the ball. Then Milford hit back and a mixture of good play and some indifferent tackling by Albion saw Mark Gibson go in for a well taken try wide out, no goal to add bit it was now Albion 6 – Milford 16 on 46 minutes.

The Marlins had got the bit between their teeth and some more poor tackling in midfield saw Matt Hayes go 40 metres for a try, David Bray added the goal to make it Albion 6 – Milford 22 on 49 minutes. Albion attacked again and Ed Billings was again held short of the line, but in their eagerness to score Albion fell foul of the Referee when in a good attacking position under the posts they were mysteriously penalised for holding down in the tackle, and to make matters worse some one spoke out of turn and Albion then finished on the halfway line.

This was made even worse as Milford punished them again when Mark Gibson’s inside pass was picked up by prop Paul Dunkerley who scored by the posts, Mark Gibson added the goal to make the score line Albion 6 points to Milford's 28 on the 61^st minute mark. The next Milford attack also produced points this time for sub James Kennedy who scored a good individual try, no goal to add but it was Albion 6 – Milford 32 on 65 minutes.

Albion were trying hard to sustain their attacking play but try as they may the efforts of John Gwilliam, Dean Brookes and Andy Bowness, they could not score they went close but not close enough. Milford’s young back line were a constant threat to Albion and another sub Simon Cooper went in for a try converted by Mark Gibson to make the score Albion 6 Milford 38 on 71 minutes.

The home side kept plugging away and as they tried to force the ball outside the Milford defenders in the last minute of the game, a timely interception by Mark Gibson who went 70 metes to score by the posts, his goal attempt from in front of the posts missed the mark but it was 6 points to 42 in Milford’s favour.

This was also the final score in what had been an entertaining game of Open Rugby League and despite the score Albion had played their part. For Milford Full back Paul Coates was their Man of the Match closely followed by Mark Gibson and hooker Jason Blakely. For Albion John Gwilliam was his teams Man of the Match with Andy Bowness, Andy Parker and Steve Wrench not far behind.

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