MELTHAM All Blacks have waited a long time to notch up an away win in Division V.
But that was achieved at the weekend with an excellent 26-0 triumph at Keighley Town.
The foundation for victory was set through solid defence which helped pave the way for five tries from five different tryscorers.
Richard Wilson set the ball rolling and this was followed with further tries from Jason Carter, Jordan Pedelty, Adam Lodge and Scott Jackson.
Rob Lewis converted two of the tries and Jordan Pedelty one, while Keighley nominated Carter as best back and Chris Stephenson as best forward. Meltham’s man-of-the-match was Carter.
But there was disappointment for Emley Moor, who warmed up for their Easter Monday Holliday Cup final clash against Slaithwaite with a 44-32 loss at Birkenshaw.
Had Moor triumphed then they could have headed into the Bank Holiday showdown knowing their Division I status was secure.
But they still need one more win for that to be guaranteed, although the teams below them are now in the position where they can’t afford any slip-ups.
Moor started the contest promisingly to take a 12-6 lead through tries from Scott Wilkinson and Jason Southwell and two Karl Adamski goals.
By half-time, however, their mid-table hosts had taken control on the back of building up a 28-12 interval advantage.
That lead was extended to 32-12 early in the second half before Emley hit back to narrow the gap to 32-24 with converted tries from Tom Beaumont and James Utley.
Unfortunately, that effort began to take its toll and Birkenshaw finished strongly with two further tries to seal the contest, although Richard Sharp and Southwell grabbed late consolation efforts in a game in which Kris Shepherd and Mick Hanmer both performed strongly.
