REPORT BY: GAVIN DAVIDSON

NORTH Ribblesdale welcomed local rivals Keighley for a keenly expected encounter on Saturday, particularly after Ribb's last gasp win at their visitors in November.

In front of a bumper crowd of 700 people, those in attendance were treated to a tense and thrilling spectacle.

The game began with a very lively Keighley team onslaught as they tried to make an impression on the home side. After eight minutes they were awarded their second penalty and the usually very reliable Alex Brown must not have read the script and missed narrowly.

This was a feisty affair as could be expected when two local heavyweights collide and after Ribb had relieved the pressure the visitors came back and got first blood through a well worked try, which was finished off by Brown ,who converted his effort to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

This marvellous winning machine that is this current North Ribb side then got down to business and in the next fifteen minutes began to take control of proceedings.

Following several penalties for foul play, Keighley were pinned back on their 22 line and from a catch and drive Ribb hooker, the effervescent Matthew Speres, powered over from close range. Tom Davidson converting to level the scores.

He then gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time after more foul play from Keighley, who had their man sent off for repeatedly striking his opponent.

The second half saw Ribb playing towards their balcony and they drew first blood with livewire scrum half Hennie Van Rensburg diving over from close range for a converted try.

14-man Keighley were not to be denied and their persistence was rewarded with a converted try from winger Billy Stead to take them within three points.

Ribb came back and opened up the Keighley defence with some slick handling and Ryan Hewitt was put clear on the 22 line and he scampered over unopposed for a 22-14 Ribb lead.

This Keighley side are talented and would not lie down, scoring a converted try from centre Sean Kelly to make it a one-point game with the clock in the last five minutes.

This had all the ingredients for a repeat prescription of the game at Utley earlier in the season but yet again this winning Ribb team prevailed and as the game went into its last minutes, the hosts once again were too good for their opponents and after much pressure on the visitors' line, Van Rensburg dived over to give Ribb a 27-21 lead. They would not relinquish this lead to claim yet another bonus point win.

This was a remarkable 34th consecutive lead win and if this impressive squad can extend the streak by another three, they will have achieved back to back promotions to the regional leagues for the first time since the 1990s.

Next weekend is a free weekend so Ribb's next sojourn is to Leos with two sides on March 1.