Keighley can make it tough for Salem

From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.

Keighley are expecting to finish the season more strongly than they started it.

"We have had a lot of problems this season," said new coach Jeff Inman. "At selection meetings on Mondays we have regularly had to change three or four players.

"We have had a lot of injuries and other people have been travelling to various parts of the world. Three of them are in their gap year while some have gone on skiing holidays but as we are an amateur club we haven't got much of a hold on what people do in their spare time."

As a consequence of all this, Keighley are third from bottom in Yorkshire Divi-sion One, four points in front of a relegation place.

However, they can complete a double tomorrow by defeating fourth-placed Bradford Salem at Rose Cottage, having won 13-9 at Shay Lane in October.

The hosts have Mark Beckett at full back in place of Matt Gaffney (gashed ear), and Ollie Jackson is on the wing having returned from holiday. Andy Bennett makes his seasonal debut in the pack and experienced prop Rob Riley is on the bench.

Salem are without former Keighley player Mark Viner, and switch another former Rose Cottage player Darren Close to the back row as a consequence.

Baildon aim to continue proving that their draw with Yorkshire Division Three leaders Roundhegians was no fluke by winning at Old Modernians in a derby that will go a long way to deciding which of the two stays up.

Jenny Lane player-coach Hugh Gumbs said: "We were disappointed at only drawing with Roundhegians and weren't very happy with a decision by the referee.

"But I have told the lads that you can't be promoted every season and that we'll be in a much better state to have a shot at going up next season."

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