MIDDLESBROUGH bowed out of the Yorkshire Shield on Saturday, when a lack of replacements forced them to forfeit their home tie against Keighley after ten minutes.

The match was played to a conclusion, finishing in a 31-31 draw, but Keighley go through.

Boro were without several key players as they had expected a free day, only for the Yorkshire RFU to insist the postponed match must go ahead.

Two front row players withdrew on Saturday morning and when a third was sin-binned the absence of a front row replacement dictated the outcome.

Keighley, unbeaten in Yorkshire Two since the first match, proved a well-organised and physical side. Boro had colts Lewis Allan and James Pennington in the pack and Joe Gaudie making his first start at fly-half.

They all acquitted themselves well with Allan scoring two of Boro’s four tries.

In the only league match of note in the North-East, Billingham ended a lean run in National Three North with a 41-20 home win against Birkenhead Park.

The first of the six tries came after one minute, when an excellent move by the backs ended with Elliott Husband passing inside for Matt Kirby to score.

Further tries came from Anthony Jackson, James Watson, Luke Wilson, Andy Evans and Peter Evans, who added a penalty and four conversions.

*Sir Ian Botham was present at Swansea to see his grandson, James, score a try for Wales Under 18s in a 31-30 win against Scotland.

James, a pupil at Sedbergh School, was born in Wales when his father, Liam, was playing for Cardiff.