Saturday 2^nd March 2002
Pennine League Division 3
Ovenden ‘A’ 21 Keighley Albion ‘A’ 14

Albion effectively threw away any chance of winning Pennine League Division 3 with this defeat at Ovenden.

The game started at a fast pace with both teams coming close to the line.  However the Halifax side got on the scoresheet first with a penalty for holding down in the tackle which was easily converted.  Albion picked up the pace and Keith Dixon was unlucky not to score when he failed to take his kick and chase on the line in the 6^th minute.  More efforts came with Roger Simpson going close twice and Richard Hollins just loosing the ball going over in the corner.

It wasn’t until the 27^th minute when Albion opened their account.  Keith Dixon sent out a looping pass to Roger Simpson who sprinted round the defence to go under the posts.  Keith Dixon added the easy conversion.  Despite both teams best efforts this was the final score of the half and the Keighley side turned around with a 2-6 lead.

In the second half Ovenden beneffitted from a dodgy kick-off which they received head and feed at the scrum.  From this they came down the pitch and scored an equalising try.  No conversion so it was game on. 

Albion came straight back.   A Glen Palmer break went close.  Steve Cullen was held up on his back over the line and the referee then awarded a penalty for an earlier infringement.  Keith Dixon calmly slotted this one over as well.  Glen Palmer quickly went from hero to villain when he didn’t clear the in-goal from the kick-off.  The resulting drop out gave the home side possession near to the line and they seized a converted try from this to take the lead.

On the 56^th minute a tap penalty near to the line set Mark Smith off on a powerful run that was just stopped short.  Keith Dixon was at hand to wriggle through several tacklers to score.  However he couldn’t add the difficult conversion though the scores were now level at 12-12.  Shortly after a penalty was slotted over by Dixon and Albion were back in the lead.

This was a very short lead.  A penalty against Albion for holding down was converted 4 minutes later by Ovenden.  A speculative bomb at the end of their next six tackles was allowed to bounce 20m off the Albion line and the Halifax reacted quickest to score.

With 15 minutes to go Albion had the time to score but despite the best efforts of Richard Blackburn, Steve Cullen and Keith Dixon the home side held out.  A drop goal in the last 5 minutes sealed matters and Albion are left to ponder on their missed opportunities in the first half.

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