South Wales Scorpions 4 Keighley Cougars 60

COUGARS got their Kingstone Press League One campaign underway with a comprehensive victory in Caerphilly.

Paul March’s side ran in 11 tries against their hosts to leave them top of the division after the first round of results.

The Cougars head coach said: “I thought the tempo of the game was quite slow but we tried to speed it up and we got our rewards for that.

“We were on the front foot throughout the game and scored some nice tries. Even though I’m thrilled we scored 60 points, I’m disappointed we conceded the four when our target was to keep them at zero.

“Adam Brook suffered a knock to the head in the first half but passed the head assessment test to return.

"Ash Lindsay missed out after suffering a knock to his wrist last week against Coventry, so I made the decision to rest him with the challenging run of fixtures coming over the next few weeks.

“But it was a good weekend all round. The lads have really bonded together and have been relaxed and it’s a great win to start the new league season.

"It made the trip back to Keighley all that more enjoyable.”

Cougars got off to the best possible start after eight minutes when, after clever play from the scrum, Aaron Ollett turned through a tackle and offloaded to Scott Law, who dived over from close range.

With the pressure on the Scorpions’ line relentless, it came as no surprise – after Paul White had a try ruled out for a forward pass – when they went further ahead. A quick passing move across the line presented Hamish Barnes with the room to weave through and score.

Keighley took advantage of poor South Wales tackling, with James Feather breaking before Paul Handforth’s lovely floated kick was picked out of the air and touched down by Charlie Martin.

Brook briefly left the field following the head knock but March’s side found themselves over again with a try made by Ritchie Hawkyard and scored by brother Darren, the former’s offload presenting his older sibling with his first touchdown for the club.

And it wasn't long before Cougars were over again when Handforth’s grubber on the last tackle skidded across the turf. Despite it being missed by the diving Ritchie Hawkyard, John Oakes was on hand to pounce for his first of the afternoon.

The second half began how the first ended, with the visitors camped on their hosts’ line. And they scored their first of the second 40 when Ritchie Hawkyard quite literally slipped his way over the line after losing his footing in a patch of mud.

The home side managed a consolation effort when after a knock-on by Handforth, Paul Emanuelli took the ball from the scrum and worked it out wide to Ian Newbury, who dived over in the corner.

The Scorpions had their tails up but Cougars extended the lead shortly after the hour mark when Brendon Rawlins broke through the defensive line and raced 30 metres to cross.

Keighley eased through the Scorpions’ pack once more, with Handforth and Feather both showing great hands to exchange passes before the latter put Danny Lawton in behind the posts.

Oakes had his second of the afternoon when, after taking an offload out of the tackle, he bulldozed his way through an attempted block before running over full back Jordan Sheridan to cross next to the sticks.

Paul White was the next to cross when five minutes from time, he showed great footwork and handwork to side-step round Dai Evans and Sheridan to race over in the corner.

Ollett then completed the rout on the hooter as he caught the markers cold from the play-the-ball to scoot over underneath the uprights.

Player ratings:

COUGARS: R Hawkyard 8; Gabriel 8; Martin 8; Barnes 8; White 8; Brook 8; Handforth 8; Law 8; Feather 9; Rawlins 8; Oakes 9; D Hawkyard 8; Ollett 8. Subs: Lawton 8; Cherryholme 8; Bailey 8; Peltier 8.

SCORPIONS: Sheridan 6; Newbury 5; Gregory 6; Parker 5; Evans 7; Wilde 5; Emanuelli 5; Phillips 5; Williams 5; C Davies 5; Hill 5; Morgan 5; Vitalini 5. Subs: Farrer 5; Connor 5; R Davies 5; Jones 5.