MATCH REPORT: KEIGHLEY COUGARS 36 – 12 MIDLANDS HURRICANES

CANES FAIL TO TAME THE COUGARS IN KEIGHLEY

Off the back of a narrow 14-10 defeat to Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena the previous Sunday, the Canes turned their attention to Cougar Park for the return fixture with second-placed Keighley, who were bruising from a heavy 44-6 defeat to table-topping Oldham. The Cougars left The Alexander Stadium with the two points following a close-fought 25-18 win in early June, so the Canes were looking for revenge and that all-important eighth league win of the season.

The Canes dominated the opening minutes, with Keighley failing to make any momentum from the kick-off as we forced them back over their try-line to earn ourselves a goal-line drop out. Only a couple of sets later we opened the scoring, as Callum McLelland received a pass from Danny Barcoe and pulled off a no-look pass inwards to Todd Horner who cruised through a gap in the Cougars defence to score under the sticks (0-4). Jake Sweeting gratefully added the extras from the kicking tee (0-6). However, the momentum quickly shifted to the hosts as the Canes coughed up possession on the final tackle of the set following the kick restart, gifting Keighley an opportunity to even the scores. Following some confident drives from the hosts, Mark Ioane earned the Cougars their first try as he barged over from short range (4-6). Oscar Thomas evened up the scores with the conversion (6-6).

The Cougars momentum continued as the Canes once again coughed up possession shortly after receiving the ball, giving Keighley a scrum just 10 metres out from our line and an easy opportunity for full-back Brandon Pickersgill to cut through the Canes defence and slide over to the right of the posts (10-6). Once again, Thomas added two points from the conversion (12-6). The Cougars almost looked like they were going to go back-to-back for their third as some passes out wide resulted in their winger crossing the whitewash, however some strong defence from Ryan Millar dragged the Cougars player into touch. Millar then proved himself to be the hero at both sides of the field as he scored our second try a couple of minutes later off the back of a deft grubber kick from Captain Matty Welham that was not dealt with by the Cougars defence (12-10). Jake Sweeting added the extras and after a little more than 15 minutes the parties were evenly matched (12-12).

Just under ten minutes later, the Cougars took the lead once again. A long looping pass out left by Keighley was knocked into touch by Ryan Millar's hand to prevent a certain try, but this then gave the Cougars a scrum just 10 metres out from our try-line. The Canes defended valiantly but a repeat set arising from a penalty for offside – coupled with repeated attempts to scoot from dummy half – resulted in ex-NRL and Super League centre Junior S'au burrowing over from close range (16-12). Oscar Thomas then went three from three from the boot (18-12). The Canes had a couple of opportunities to even to score before half-time, with Matty Welham beating Pickersgill to a Callum McLelland high bomb but knocking the ball forward and Ryan Johnson being inches away from the dotting the ball down before the dead-ball line following another spill from Pickersgill, but it was the hosts who entered the sheds with a slender lead.  

HALF-TIME: Keighley Cougars 18 – 12 Midlands Hurricanes   

Whilst the sides were largely even for the first 20 minutes of the second half, it was the Canes who had the best opportunity to open the scoring. Ten minutes in Ryan Johnson made a nice break through the Cougars line before passing to Danny Barcoe who subsequently offloaded to Jon-Luke Kirby, however our Vice-Captain unfortunately could not keep possession and Keighley gratefully accepted a scrum 10 metres out from their own line. Just five minutes later, Barcoe himself attempted a trademark scurry over the Keighley line but was deemed held up by the referee. Despite this pressure it was the Cougars who scored first to extend their lead as Pickersgill once again spotted a gap in the Canes line to dart through untouched (22-12). Thomas then added the extras from left of the posts (24-12).  

Despite this setback, the Canes continued to fight back and had another two opportunities in quick succession to score. The first came arose out of a bullet pass from Liam Welham to Todd Horner less than 10 metres out who quickly sought to offload to Jake Sweeting, however Sweeting could not gather the ball before dotting it down over the Cougars line. Just a few minutes later Barcoe skipped through the Cougars line from dummy-half and offloaded to Todd Horner who plonked the ball down, however the referee pulled the attack back for a forward pass. Canes debutant Kye Armstrong (on loan from Hull FC) was then helped off the field with what appeared to be a leg injury.

The hosts wrapped up the game during the last ten minutes as veteran George Flanagan dragged a number of Canes defenders to the try-line and hunched himself over to put the ball down next to the posts (28-12). Once again, Thomas added the extras (30-12). Whilst the Canes still had opportunities to score a consolation following a penalty, momentum quickly shifted back to the Cougars as a flat pass from Sweeting was called forward by the referee. Just a minute later a flat pass to Robson allowed him to cut through the line and score the final try of the afternoon (34-12), with Oscar going six from six (36-12). The Canes still sought a consolation try, however an attempted dummy and offload from McLelland resulted in a knock-on and a post-hooter break by Matty Welham was cut short at the half-way line to bring proceedings to a close.  

Whilst North Wales Crusaders did not play last weekend and remain two points behind, Workington's 32-24 away victory over 3rd place Hunslet means they leapfrog the Canes into fifth place with four games of the regular season to go. The Canes now facial a crucial crunch period of the season, with a tough away trip to leader Oldham on Sunday followed by our first home game in over two months as we welcome Workington Town to The Alex for the first time on Sunday 11th August.

Man of the Match:

Jon-Luke Kirby (sponsored by Signature Resin Floors (Halifax)

Scoring sequence:

0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 10-6, 12-6, 12-10, 12-12, 16-12, 18-12, 22-12, 24-12, 28-12, 30-12, 34-12 and 36-12.