Keighley warmed up for this weeks cup
semi final with Dockers by suffering a narrow defeat in the last league meeting
between the two sides this season.
The match kicked off in typical February
weather, cold and wet with a driving rain. The Hull side appeared to be at full
strength but Keighley had made the journey without two key players.
The opening exchanges had Keighley on top
but on a narrow pitch the scrambling Dockers defence was able to snuff out any
danger. Gradually the Dockers attack came to the fore and from a sustained
period of pressure the Hull full back forced her way over for the first try
which was unconverted.
Keighley replied with a series of attacks
prompted by the strong running of Aussie Jodie Billing but again the Hull
defence held firm. Then Laura Ackroyd conjured up a piece of individual
brilliance to break the defence, round the fullback in some style and touch down
under the posts. With Ackroyd herself adding on the extras the Cats were now in
the lead.
For the remainder of the half there was
nothing much to choose between the teams but right on half time a kick through
was fumbled by the Keighley defence and the ball was regathered for a crucial
score. The extras were added and Keighley turned round 10 points to 6 down.
Almost from the restart with Billing off
receiving treatment, Nikki O’Donnell, the Dockers Great Britain centre,
powered in from 20 metres for a typical try. The extras were again added and
Keighley now trailed 6 points to 16. The Cats were strangely lethargic and apart
from occasional flashes of brilliance from Ackroyd and some hard work from Saima
Hussein, Alex Knight and Kirsty Horsfall they were not making much impression.
However Ackroyd managed to force her way
through a cluster of defenders to score again. She tagged on the conversion and
Keighley were still in with a shout. Unfortunately player of the match Billing
again had to leave the field with an injury, this time not to return. With her
went Keighley’s last chance of salvaging something from the game and a further
late converted try merely underlined Hull’s superiority on the day.
This weekend the Cats will have to show a
big improvement if they are to progress to the Challenge Cup Final at Dewsbury
on Easter Sunday. Kick off is 2 p.m. at Marley and the girls would appreciate as
much local support as possible.
Andy MacDonald
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