Unconvincing Cougars close in on fourth spot

3:34pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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Keighley Cougars 26 Hunslet Hawks 20

Barry Eaton is a progressive coach, one who doesn't try to curb a player's ball playing tendencies.

He doesn't mind them trying something out. But, only in the right circumstances. This means the basics have to be rock solid.

With Hunslet being rock bottom, Keighley would surely win this match at a canter. It certainly appeared so when Chris Redfearn crossed the chalk with barely three minutes gone. Jones put up the cross-field kick, which Dan Potter claimed at Scott Childs' expense. Before speeding past the sprawling full-back Nathan Larvin, unselfishly, Potter put Redfearn away only for referee Mr Carr to call play back for Potter being off-side at the outset, and award Hunslet their third penalty in as many minutes.

Within two minutes, two further penalties had been awarded. This time to Keighley. It was that kind of game played in fits and starts - stoppages punctuated with short passages of cohesive play. One such, stemming from a Craig Fawcett slide rule kick to the flag, almost allowed winger Sam Gardner to sneak in at the corner, having out-thought the covering full back.

The Cougars broke their duck after ten minutes. A quick restart on their own 20 caught the visitors offside to kick start the set.

Strong running by Greg Nicholson and Andy Shickell took Keighley into the 20 before Redfearn and Potter were both repelled from close range.

However, Fawcett conjured up two body swerves to sidestep his way to the line, leaving both Larvin and Wayne Freeman in limbo. Jones tagged on the extras for a worthy six-point lead.

Two minutes later Larvin excelled when he somehow put Potter into touch as he bore down on the try line.

This was only a temporary reprieve, as Hunslet's compact defence was undone when Jones swung the ball out wide to the left winger Ryan Smith, who had pace and power enough to beat Carl Gunney to the whitewash. Jones's goal gave the Cougars a 12-point cushion.

The south Leeds outfit responded within five minutes courtesy of some wayward Keighley defending which allowed Gunney a try and Darren Robinson the easiest of conversions.

Eaton introduced the fresh legs of Jermaine Wray and Brendan Rawlins. After Potter the tormentor once more made the incisive break, the substitutes combined to good effect for a four point score.

At this juncture the Hawks were confined to feeding on scraps. However, as the half-time hooter sounded a Jones' cross-field kick aimed for Gardner, hugged the right touchline but failed to find its mark allowing the Hawk-eyed Childs to pick it off before flying 70 metres to the try line.

Although the conversion was missed by Scott Aitkin, the difference was only one converted score and gave the visitors belief.

The second half saw the Hawks in the ascendancy as Keighley were unable to complete a set for the first six minutes. When they finally did they left the opposition's 20 empty handed while the Hawks made 80 metres in three plays, and only a desperate infield tackle by Gardner stopped a score.

However, with the home side defence stretched, man mountain Mark Cunningham found himself with the ball in hand as part of a two-man overlap.

Foster failed with his attempted interception of the pass and Gardner was unable to restrain the colossus Cunningham. Aitkin's goal tied the scores at 16 all in what was proving to be a rather gruelling encounter.

As their exertions took their toll on both sides, knock-ons were exchanged, Andy Robinson was penalised for a forward pass, before Jones returned the ball through a careless pass which Stuart Young anticipated.

Jones redeemed himself with a fine back-tracking tackle to deny Francis Maloney.

Minutes later Maloney found himself in the sin-bin for descent following Will Cartledge's try against his former club. This provided Keighley with a meagre four-point lead.

Two sets later they extended the lead, Law showing he packed a punch, neatly rounding Richie Chapman, before drawing Larvin in to the tackle. He spun out a pass to Jones on his outside. The stand off's sharp burst allowing him to breeze past Freeman to touch down unopposed. Convert-ing his own score gave Keighley breathing space at 26-16.

When Greg Nicholson broke for 50 metres it looked like the match may be put to bed. But the supporting Gardner was stopped a foot short. At the play the ball Larvin then knocked the ball into touch as Potter was about to pounce. A scrum was awarded but head and feed went to Hunslet.

With possession returned to the visitors, hooker Chapman was able to claim a try and narrow the margin to six points with three minutes remaining. The last three minutes was an eternity for a purposeful Keighley defensive unit who held out to take the points despite a second half performance where they ambled along a rather desultory course. But they finally put together a couple of phases of play, notably on the back of powerful driving by the forwards.

A relieved and exasperated Eaton said: "We should have won this match a lot easier. We failed to overcome Hunslet's tactics or adapt to the situation. However despite this we took the three points we needed.

"But it's imperative that we improve our game on Friday against the Scholars in London."