Keighley Cougars Reserves 64 Victoria Rangers 0

COACH Dean Muir praised the influence of the experienced first-teamers at his disposal as Cougars Reserves began 2015 with a comfortable friendly victory over the Victoria Rangers.

The Bradford amateur side were no match for the hosts as Keighley warmed up for their league opener at home to Leigh Centurions on April 9 with a try feast.

Muir said: “Having people like Luke Haigh available is fantastic for us and for the younger lads in the dressing room, which is shown by the time he spent mentoring Alfie Seeley and Sam Wilkin, and I was really impressed with the leadership role taken on by Sean Kelly.

“The big lads up front, Tom Courtney, Ryan Patchett, Chris Watson and Aaron Nicholson, had that little bit of beef which the pack needed in the middle but all the lads from the first team worked well and had great enthusiasm.”

Andy Gabriel broke the deadlock, diving over into the corner from a pass on the outside by Hamish Barnes.

In a frustrating first half for the hosts, Cougars scored again, with Daley Williams breaking down the left wing before offloading inside for Sean Kelly to grab the try.

New signing Scott Lee touched down on debut from a Liam Darville grubber, with Aaron Nicholson and Williams also scoring before the interval.

The second half was more comfortable for the Cougars as Rangers tired.

Keighley scored three tries in six minutes through Darville, Nicholson’s second and Alfie Seeley to put the result beyond any doubt.

Barnes touched down next as he rolled over his attempted tackler to get the ball down before Williams grabbed his second.

Jordan Aitchison added further misery, taking advantage of a clever inside pass from Kelly, before Ryan Patchett wrapped things up with a try on the hooter.