Wath 24 Keighley 27

On Saturday Wath upon Dearne RUFC 1st XV welcomed second placed Keighley RUFC to Moor Road, the previous fixture at Keighley had seen a 0-0 score at half time but a Keighley rampage in the second half meant they earned a 29-0 win.
The visitors have only lost once all season, to unbeaten league leaders West Leeds, and so Wath were well aware of the task ahead of them. It was Keighley who started strongest, they dominated the early exchanges which eventually led to a penalty which they duly converted 0-3.
Wath had named a very young squad, but the entire team showed great spirit and worked themselves into the game, Minshull, Earp and Brownrigg were leading the charge at the breakdown and Wath began to battle upfield.
Both teams lost a player each to the sin bin around 15 minutes for a scuffle off the ball.
On 20 minutes, after a period of sustained pressure Wath worked their way to the Keighley try line and from a ruck under the sticks scrum half Joe Bartlett was able to burrow over for a try. 7-3.
The game continued to Yo-yo until the closing minutes of the first half, Wath had strong field position, but the Keighley defence was holding firm, 18 year old stand off Jack Whitlam stepped back into the pocket and slotted a drop goal with just a minute of the half to play.
Keighley had an opportunity at the half time whistle with a penalty but the attempt went wide, half time score Wath 10 Keighley 3.
Wath began on the attack in the second half, from one such attack stand off Whitlam sent a kick to the corner and was taken out late resulting in a penalty which he duly converted 13-3.
Keighley then began to dominate, they pushed hard and came within metres of the Wath line, back row Matt Myers, who had come on as a replacement for Wath earned a superb turnover within inches of the try line to relieve the pressure.
Whitlam sent a huge kick upfield and the kick chase of Mangham, Hopkin and Clark set off in pursuit. 17 year old winger Adam Clark won the foot race to the ball and chipped the ball ahead before showing great composure to control the ball over the line and score, a first try in only his second 1st XV game, 18-3.
Wath continued to push on, from the re-start they earned a penalty at ruck, Whitlam was on target from out wide 21-3.
With fifteen minutes to go Wath further extended their lead, following another period of pressure it was again Whitlam who slotted a penalty out wide 24-3.
The final ten minutes of the half really were ones to forget for Wath, Keighley battled back and scored four tries in the closing stages (two of which were converted). A huge disappointment for the players and supporters to lose following an absolutely outstanding performance for 70 minutes from the entire squad. Final score Wath 24 Keighley 27.

There were plenty of positives to take from the game, an extremely young squad showed great spirit throughout and more than held their own against an extremely strong side who are pushing for promotion. Special mentions to Matt Myers and James Thompson who put in a great shift on their debuts and Adam Clark for an outstanding try. The man of the match award went to stand off Jack Whitlam, 14 points to his name and a fantastic performance from the youngster.