MATCH REPORT: HURRICANES 6 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 54

Sam Bowring tries to launch an attack. Pic: Andy Shaw

MIDLANDS HURRICANES 6 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 54

DAVE MUSSON, Portway, Sunday 24 July 2022

HURRICANES head coach Rich Squires said his side had ‘a lot to learn’ from top-of-the-table Keighley Cougars, who maintained their 100% record with a trouble-free afternoon in the Midlands on Sunday.

Jack Miller’s hat-trick of tries for the Cougars were thoroughly deserved, while further doubles from Aaron Levy, Toby Everett and Alix Stephenson, plus one from Mo Agoro - who touched down for the twelfth consecutive game – saw them stroll to 15 wins in a row.

In fact, the only run that came to a halt for the Cougars was their impenetrable defence; they conceded a try for the first time since mid-June when, ironically, on-loan Chris Cullimore scored for the hosts.

The Hurricanes - operating on a threadbare squad - looked good in patches and were never lacking in effort, but the Cougars were a class above – always in control and always likely to score.

Suires said: “The effort’s there in some areas - in others we could be better, but we’ve come up against a very good team there that just kept their foot on our throat for the full 80 minutes. That’s why they’re unbeaten and top of the league.

“There are a lot of ifs and buts for us at the minute and we need to be a little more patient - we try to score every time we get near the line and it’s killing us a little bit. We’ve definitely got some attacking strike there, we’ve just got to put it together - but there is some flair there.

“They haven’t conceded more than 18 points in a game all season - they’re a good team and we’ve got a lot to learn from them.”

Kieron Lawton makes a break. Pic: Andy Shaw

The table-toppers wasted little time in getting started, with Levy crashing over in the third minute after some slick hands from Miller.

The Hurricanes thought they’d hit back immediately, but Liam Welham knocked on while grounding the ball and the try was scrubbed out.

The Cougars made them pay after a quarter of an hour when they worked the ball wide to Agoro, who had the simplest finish to keep his incredible scoring run going. Try 26 of a standout year, and counting.

The hosts refused to fold, and almost hit back again midway through the half when two former Cougars – Ben Stead and Matty Welham – linked up well, but the ball agonisingly went to ground.

Taking such chances when they’re offered is what marks the best sides from just the good ones, and Cougars promptly added another four points to their tally at the next available opportunity - Levy doubling his tally just before the half hour, then Everett seconds later after a beautiful break from Miller.

The hosts finally got the try they deserved five minutes before the break when Cullimore crashed over.

Chris Cullimore is congratulated for his try. Pic: Andy Shaw

Just as in the first half, Cougars scored early in the second – Miller’s sleight of hand parting the Hurricanes defence to give him a well-earned try.

Moments later they were in again. Dane Chisholm’s savvy 40/20 gave them the field position, and they held their nerve through the tackles before Miller fed Everett for his second.

To the Hurricanes’ credit they always looked a threat and had a second try disallowed moments later; Stead intercepted and raced almost the length of the field before being hauled down. A few tackles later in the set, Elliot Hall looked to have scored for the second game in a row, but was adjudged to have knocked on while grounding the ball.

There were also bright performances from AJ Boardman, Nathan Newbound, and Hull KR loanee Bailey Dawson, but opportunities to attack the Cougars line - let alone score - were few and far between.

And, again, the Cougars showed what it was to be clinical as they raced down their left edge to slip Stephenson for their seventh try of the game.

With fifteen minutes to go they scored again, Miller exchanging passes with Chisholm on a looping run for the try of the afternoon.

Miller completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time with a simple finish under the posts, after a sumptuous break and pass from the livewire Lewis Young.

Cougars rubbed further salt into Hurricanes wounds with seconds to play as they fed Stephenson for his second.

The Hurricanes return to action quickly, travelling to Hunslet this Friday night, 29 July, for a 7.45pm kick off.

Hurricanes man of the match: Chris Cullimore

Elliot Hall in possession. Pic: Andy Shaw

MATCHFACTS

HURRICANES: Hall, Lawton, M Welham, L Welham, Freeman, Collins, Stead, Walton, Windley, Newbound, Bowring, Dawson, Bull.

Subs (all used): Boardman, Cullimore, Dawson, Sheridan.

Tries: Cullimore (35)

Goals: Stead 1/1

COUGARS: Young, Agoro, Sa’u, Graham, Stephenson, Chisholm, Miller, Pettybourne, Feather, Parker, Trout, Levy, Kesik.

Subs (all used): Santi, Murrell, Spence, Everett.

Tries: Levy (3, 27), Agoro (15), Everett (29, 48), Miller (44, 65, 73), Stephenson (57, 79)

Goals: Miller 7/10

Penalty count: 7-6

Half-time: 6-18

Referee: Aaron Moore

Attendance: 358

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-8, 0-12, 0-18, 6-18, 6-24, 6-30, 6-36, 6-42, 6-48, 6-54