Oldham 38 Keighley Cougars 8

KEIGHLEY Cougars produced their worst performance of the season as they were defeated by Kingstone Press League One leaders Oldham.

The defeat saw the Cougars drop to third in the table, four points behind the Roughyeds with a game in hand.

Disappointed player-coach Paul March said: “I thought they gave us a beating down the middle.

“As the game went on their forwards stood up and we need to play better.”

March had to withdraw from the side minutes before kick off after sustaining an Achilles injury in training. His place went to Jesse Sheriffe, whose brother Rikki was making his 200th rugby league career appearance.

Both Oldham’s opening two tries came through the same avenue as they broke through tackles and exposed gaps in the line to get over.

The versatile Sammy Gee was the first to do so before full back Richard Lepori marked his second home debut for the club by running the ball in underneath the posts.

Loan winger Josh Guzdek did get the visitors’ only score of the second half when he touched down in the left-hand corner after great work by Rikki Sheriffe.

Centre Nathan Tyson broke from inside his own 20 from a free play. Andy Gabriel’s marvellous tackle was in vain as Jack Holmes crossed from the next play.

Lewis Palfrey put a penalty kick narrowly wide of the posts after the referee punished Keighley for interference.

Half-back Palfrey was proving a thorn in the Cougars’ paws and scored a try when his high kick bounced awkwardly and caught out Jesse Sheriffe.

Second row Danny Langtree added Oldham’s fifth try as he bulldozed his way through three attempted tacklers.

Winger Gabriel gave Cougars fans something to cheer when he sprinted 70 metres to the line from Liam Darville’s pass.

Club captain James Feather was penalised for a swinging arm, which allowed Palfrey to add another two points from just short of the 60-metre line.

And the defeated Cougars switched off in the final minute when Liam Thompson complete the scoring.