MATCH REPORT: MIDLANDS HURRICANES 18 – 25 KEIGHLEY COUGARS

Canes fall just short in a valiant effort to tame the Cougars

As the Hurricanes lined up for their 11th game of the Betfred League One season, both they and their opponents in Keighley Cougars were on a roll. The Canes entered on the back of two impressive wins at home over Newcastle Thunder (66-4) and North Wales Crusaders (18-10), whilst the Cougars had come off the back of their only defeat of the season by beating North Wales Crusaders in Colwyn Bay (10-30), as well as upsetting the previously unbeaten Oldham at Cougar Park (28-18) to sit at the top of the table. Head Coach Mark Dunning knew his boys were in for a fight, however there was no reason to believe the Canes could not hold their own against the league leaders.

That belief was rewarded early on as it took just three minutes for the Canes to open the scoring, with a home scrum seeing quick passes from Danny Barcoe to Callum McLelland to Todd Horner, the latter of whom swiftly batted the ball left to Swinton loanee Matty Chrimes who dived into the corner for his second try in as many games for the club this season (4-0). Last week's Man of the Match David Hewitt had no issues converting the try with an impressive kick from out wide (6-0).

After some solid defending by the Canes, our afternoon became a little more difficult as Vice-Captain Jon-Luke Kirby was sin-binned in the 19th minute for an adjudged late hit on Izaac Farrell, on loan to the Cougars from our Dual-Registration partners Sheffield Eagles. From the resulting set Keighley's Lewis Hatton was able to maintain his balance and rotate his way around the Canes defence to lean over and put the ball down over the line to the right of the posts (6-4). Jack Miller had no trouble adding the extras (6-6).

With the scores levelled, Keighley sought to take advantage of the extra-man and exploited gaps down the Hurricanes right edge, however the home side scrambled well to hold off the Cougars attack. The additional man eventually took its toll however, as on the 28th minute Cougars winger (and debutant) Max Lambourne was able to cut through and dot the ball down on the right edge to score (6-10). Once again, Miller added the extras (6-12).  

Just before half-time, Matty Chrimes looked to be in for his second of the afternoon as he pounced on his own grubber down the left edge just before Keighley's Oscar Thomas kicked the ball dead. However the referee, only having one opportunity to assess the situation and both Chrimes and Thomas' efforts occurring almost simultaneously, adjudged Thomas to have kicked the ball dead first and held Keighley had conceded a goal-line drop-out (much to Chrimes' chagrin). Just two minutes later, Chrimes crossed the line again in the left corner but the referee rightly chalked this off for a forward pass.

Seemingly spooked by the Canes ability to threaten the Cougars line, Jack Miller elected to kick a drop goal just before the hooter to extend Keighley's margin to two scores (6-13). The Canes duly went into the sheds shortly thereafter, behind but very much still in the game.  

Midlands Hurricanes 6 – 13 Keighley Cougars   

Knowing the game was still in the balance, it was the Canes who started strongest with a strong attacking set ending with a Callum McLelland grubber almost resulting in a second try, only for a Keighley defender managed to scoop the ball up and escape the Cougars try-line. That did not dissuade the Canes, as a strong run by Kieran Moran allowed Callum McLelland to repeat his assist from the win over Crusaders as a huge looping cut-out pass was collected by Matty Chrimes in acres of space to (finally) score his second of the afternoon just inside of the left edge (10-13). Once again faced with a difficult kick out wide, Dave Hewitt had no issues adding the two points (12-13).

Unfortunately for the Canes, Keighley would extend their lead just a few minutes later as Izaac Farrell showed some skill to shirk off the Canes defence and force his way over the line (12-17), with Miller once again adding the extras from just left of the posts (12-19). Unperturbed, the Canes almost immediately responded as a returning Blake Broadbent came within inches of scoring his first try for the club. A few minutes later it looked like Billy Walkley had scored in the left corner for the Cougars, however some valiant Hurricanes defending meant he had been bundled into touch before placing the ball down. Walkley wasn't to be denied the next time however, as a Junior Sa'u pass out wide was finished off in the left-hand corner (12-23). Miller's subsequent conversion meant the Cougars had a three-score lead with just under 20 minutes to play (12-25).

The Canes refused to give up, and were rewarded for their efforts in the 70th minute as a switch pass from Callum McLelland was collected by Liam Welham who sliced through some suspect Cougars defence to slide over just left of the sticks for his 7th try of the season (16-25), taking him within one try of sharing the accolade of being the Hurricanes second-highest try-scorer of all time with his younger brother Matty. With his easiest kick of the game on offer, Hewitt duly added the two points (18-25).

With the pressure all on Keighley to keep hold of their lead, the Canes exerted serious pressure on the Cougars defence who had to pull out all the stops to deny the home side a fourth try at The Alex. However, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to find that elusive try to get us within a score as the final hooter sounded.

With this win the Cougars leap-frogged Oldham back into first place, however the travelling support acknowledged the Canes had run them close and were always in the running to win the game themselves, with Head Coach Mark Dunning acknowledging that the disappointment of losing to Keighley did not take away from the fantastic account his players gave of themselves on the day. Young forward Marcus Green – who has grasped the opportunity to play under his former boss at Bradford Bulls with both hands – was awarded his second Man of the Match this season for his impressive efforts in attack and defence.  

Still sitting fifth in the table and in contention for the play-offs, we now turn our attention to the first of six (6!) consecutive away trips as we travel to the South Leeds Stadium to face Hunslet, who we certainly owe some revenge after a narrow 26-30 home loss earlier in the season.  

Attendance:

462

Man of the Match:

Marcus Green (sponsored by J & B Travel)

Scoring sequence:

4-0, 6-0, 6-4, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12, 6-13, 10-13, 12-13, 12-17, 12-19, 12-23, 12-25, 16-25 and 18-25.