Saturday 19th January 2002
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIV 2
CASTLEFORD PANTHERS 30 KEIGHLEY ALBION 12

Albion travelled to Castleford to play the Panthers in their first League game of 2002, buoyant after last weeks first win of the current season. Also the return from suspension of influential scrum half and skipper John Gwilliam gave the side a more balanced look.

Albion started brightly putting the Panthers under pressure from the kick off, and only a long relieving kick out of defence eased the situation. The Panthers made the most of this and good play from Danny Pickering saw a long pass to centre Mark Townend that allowed him to go in for a try, the goal attempt was off the target but the Panthers led by 4points to nil in the 5^th minute.

Not to be outdone Albion hit back and a spectacular 40/20 kick from John Gwilliam gave Albion head and ball at the scrum on the Panthers 10 metre line, but Albion couldn’t break the defence of the home side down. And the attack came to naught. The Panthers came back with an attack of there own putting Albion’s defence to the test but good tackling from Steve Wrench and Gary Boocock kept them at bay.

However Albion’s good play was undone when they gave away a couple of silly penalties in the home sides half and from one of the penalties the Panthers increased their lead when Sean Wales kicked a penalty goal to give the score line of Panthers 6 points to nil on 20 minutes. Albion attacked again and both Kris Kirk and Adam Lilley made good yards in to the Panthers 22 area but poor finishing let them down. Albion were all over the Panthers but their defence was holding firm, but Albion would not give in and more pressure was turned in to points when the home side kicked the ball dead, and from the drop out from under the posts did not go the required 10 metres Kris Kirk added the penalty goal to put Albion on the score sheet with the score at Panthers 6 points to Albion’s 2 in the 40^th minute.

This was also the Half time score as the referee called a halt to the first half. This was a half littered by mistakes from both sides who in there eagerness to score had made many errors, but at 6 points to 2 it was all to play for. Half time score Panthers 6 – Albion 2.

Albion’s half time pep talk was vociferous if nothing else, but it was the Panthers who came out with all guns blazing and had increased there lead within the 1^st minute of the 2^nd half when centre James Sharp charged through Albion’s defence to score a well taken try, Sean Wales added the goal to give a score line of Panthers 12 points to Albion’s 2 on 41 minutes. But worse was to come when, before Albion had chance to compose themselves Mark Townend got his 2^nd try of the game luckily the goal attempt was wide of the posts, but it was now Panthers 16 points to 2 in front on 43 minutes.

Not fazed by this Albion came back at the Panthers and John Gwilliam set up a try for the strong running Adam Lilley who forced himself over the try line for a well taken try, Kris Kirk added the goal to make the score Panthers 16 points to Albion’s 8 in the 47^th minute. This had given Albion a new lease of life and Andy Parker and Kris Kirk were causing the Panthers problems with their strong running, but against the run of play the Panthers snatched a try out of nothing when centre Steve Hardisty snapped up a loose ball to go in for a try wide out, there was no goal to add but it was Panthers 20 points to Albion’s 8points on the 52 minute mark.

Albion were continuing to play open rugby and were rewarded with the best try of the game when from a scrum on the half way line, Andy Bowness put Kris Kirk through a gap in the Panthers defence who in turn drew the full back before sending the backing up Andy Bowness in for a try near the posts, sadly the relatively easy kick at goal was off the target but it was Panthers 20 points to Albion’s 12 on 59 minutes.

It was now nip and tuck as both teams looked for points, but for Albion Rob Haughey was put in the sin bin for alleged holding down in the tackle on 64 minutes, and in the 2^nd set of 6 tackles the Panthers went further ahead when on the last tackle they kicked the ball high in to the corner and Albion failed to control the ball young sub Matthew Bacon pounced on the loose ball to score a try in the corner, the goal attempt was of the target but the Panthers now led by 24 – 12 in the 66^th minute.

Try as they may Albion could not break the Panthers defence down and the went further ahead when following some good open play they caught Albion’s defence a man short with a play that got them outside Albion’s last player and Steve Hardisty went in for his 2^nd try of the game, Sean Wales added the goal kick to give a score line of Panthers 30 points to Albion’s 12 on the 75 minute mark. This was also the final score.

Albion’s performance was much improved but were punished hard for a poor 2^nd half display, when the Panthers ran in 10 points in the first 3 minutes and again punished Albion when Albion were down to 12 players they scored a further 10 points. For Albion Man of the Match Kris Kirk had worked hard closely followed by Steve Wrench, Andy Parker, Adam Lilley and Andy Bowness. The Panthers were well served by their Man of the Match Richard Hewitt with Centres Mark Townend and Steve Hardisty both scoring 2 tries apiece.

Next week Albion return to the GMB Union National Cup Round 2 with the visit of Conference League 1^st Division side Rochdale Mayfield. The game is to be played at Crossflatts Cricket Club with a 2-00 pm Kick off.
Terry Caddy.

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