Keighley Cougars crushed as March sees red (From Keighley News)

Keighley Cougars crushed as Paul March sees red

9:56pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Featherstone Rovers 52 Keighley Cougars 10

Paul March was sent off as Cougars slipped to their sixth straight league defeat tonight after leaders Featherstone powered to a ten-try victory in front of the TV cameras.

The player-coach has endured a dismal start to his reign and Daryl Powell’s men were in no mood to offer sympathy as they raced 26-0 up by the interval.

It was effectively game over from there after first-half tries from Andy Kain, Tom Hodson (2), Andy Bostock and former Bulls prop Steve Crossley.

Second-rower James Lockwood added a second-half double, Kain completed his hat-trick and Jonny Hep-worth also crossed to ensure tries from Ben Sagar and Paul White meant little for March, who was dismissed late on for dissent.

March handed debuts to on-loan Dewsbury centre Elliott Cosgrove and Castleford full back Richard Owen, but Featherstone were dominant throughout.

They led in the ninth minute when Kain replaced the injured Kyle Briggs and collected possession 20 metres out.

With a combination of blistering pace and clever footwork, he darted through a gap to score and Liam Finn added the first of his six conversions.

Rovers scored again soon after when Hodson finished off a fine handling sequence in the right corner.

Cougars sought a response and Charlie Martin, on a season-long dual registration deal from Castleford, grounded a teasing kick but the score was disallowed.

The pendulum swung back in Rovers’ favour as Andy Bostock barrelled over before Hodson pounced for his second in the right corner.

Crossley arrived at pace to add a fifth try and, to make matters worse, Cougars replacement Joe Chandler went off with a knock.

Fev increased their lead after the restart when Lockwood went over but Cougars soon replied as Sagar took a quick pass to go over in the left channel.

Scott Leatherbarrow failed to convert and Rovers soon struck again through Lockwood.

Kain added his second shortly before the hour-mark after waltzing over unopposed and Hepworth touched down before Kain completed his treble.