Rochdale Hornets 8 Keighley Cougars 10

KEIGHLEY Cougars emerged narrow victors for the second consecutive week as they overcame Hornets.

In awful conditions and in a poor quality game, a penalty goal from Paul Handforth, returning from a month’s lay-off with a calf injury, put Keighley 10-8 up and proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Although, just like the previous week’s victory over Barrow, there was late drama with Hornets’ half-back Paul Crook missing two penalty attempts to try to level the game.

Player-coach Paul March said: “The weather didn’t help either side, especially with it continuing non-stop for over an hour.

“When the ball was dry, I thought we were the better team and with ball in hand looked really comfortable and dangerous.

“We now have to mentally prepare ourselves for the emotional challenge of the London Skolars fixture (the original game was abandoned when Danny Jones collapsed and died) on Bank Holiday Monday.”

Cougars took an early lead, with Bulls loanee Samir Tahraoui marauding through an attempted tackle to dive over the line.

With the weather turning from searing heat to driving rain and thunderstorms, the game turned into a scrappy affair.

The Hornets levelled after 19 minutes when Mike Ratu collected Wayne English’s clever short pass before finding space to race through.

Keighley should have gone into the break leading but Handforth knocked on just a metre out after Josh Lynam fought an arm free in the tackle to get the offload away.

The rain continued to get heavier and, with try-scoring opportunities at a premium, Rochdale took their chance to go into a four-point lead.

Crook converted after a penalty for holding down before scoring another from ten metres inside his own half.

The visitors drew level for the second time in the game though with the final try.

Three of March’s youngsters combined, with Liam Darville’s clever hands and a quick offload from Hull KR loanee Josh Guzdek putting Andy Gabriel over in the corner, despite the efforts of Dale Bloomfield to knock the winger into touch.

The Hornets’ only real attack on the Keighley line nearly brought with it the four-pointer to restore their lead but former Bull Danny Bridge spilt the ball as he stretched out to touch down.