Saturday 17th November 2001
Pennine League Division 3
Keighley Albion 'A' 56 Greetland All Rounders 18

The Albion second string continued their rise up Pennine Division 3 with this too easy win over struggling Greetland who have only managed 2 wins in this division to date.

The writing was on the wall early on when a penalty for offside was slotted over by Chris Brookes in the first 3 minutes.  This lead was then added to a few minute later when a long Dean Brookes pass gave Gary Baxter the time and space to stroll over in the corner.

The visitors then held their line for the next 10 minutes but Andy Parker and Gary Baxter worked to give John Wood the space to break downfield and his pass gave Matt Bowness a run in to the posts.  Chris Brookes added the conversion.

A penalty gave Greetland a rare attacking position and another one the opportunity to get on the scoresheet which they took.  However quick hands up the slope at Highfield gave Chris Brookes the opportunity to force his way over and he took this.  His brother Dean added the conversion.  Straight from the kick off and subsequent tackle Dean Condren took a standard drive and shot through the line and round the full back for a 50m try.

Further fast passing put Ian Anderson in at the corner and it looked all over for Greetland.  However they did show some life when a chip kick resulted in a try but this was nullified when Andy Parker delayed a pass to John Wood who then shot through and scored from 40m out.  The conversion by Chris Brookes brought half-time and a commanding Albion lead of 32-6.

In the second half the Keighley side were playing downhill against a weak team that had been reduced by injury to only 11 players.  This should have been the signal to cut loose but the first score came 14 minutes in when John Williams scored a short-range try which Chris Brookes converted.  Shortly after John Wood spun out of a tackle and went over with Chris Brookes again adding the extras.

A player in the Albion U-18s Mark Smith made his open-age debut as a sub in the second half and he opened it in some style when one of his strong runs went over the line.   The ball was reefed out but he gained the penalty try anyway.  Chris Brookes again converted.  Smith again forced his way over but couldn't ground the ball.  To round off the Albion scoring Jim Coldwell went over after 71 minutes of play for a converted try.

With Greetland at their mercy Albion took their foot off the gas in a big way and the visitors seized on this to get 2 converted tries in the last minutes.  This tarnished a workmanlike victory for Albion.  The Player's player was Matt Robinson who ran and tackled with his usual high quality and effort.

Albion are now third in the league and with the leaders Victoria Vikings having their first defeat on Saturday are now looking set for the top of Pennine League Division 3. 

This Saturday Albion are at Highfield playing Sowerby Spartans in Round 1 of the Halifax Cup.  Kick off 2pm.

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