Keighley Cougars 54 Oxford 14

KEIGHLEY Cougars booked an iPro Sport Cup semi-final spot at London Skolars after easing to victory in the first of two consecutive home games against Oxford.

After an error-strewn start, Cougars broke the deadlock when Adam Brook offloaded to Paul White, who raced 60 metres to dive under the posts.

Rikki Sheriffe added a second on his return from injury minutes later when he fought over from Ritchie Hawkyard’s pass after a flowing cross field move.

Hamish Barnes added to the lead as he got his outstretched arm over from Hawkyard’s offload under pressure.

Oxford registered their first points in the 26th minute when Marcus Brooker brought Barnes out of the line to create space for Casey Canterbury to cross.

Vinny Finigan replied for Cougars on the half-hour mark when, after a Hawkyard break, the ball was worked to Barnes, with the Jamaican international sending the winger racing in next to the uprights.

The game was over as a contest shortly before the half-time as Liam Darville put in a tricky grubber behind the posts on the last tackle and, when Nathan Kitson spilled, Darville touched down with ease from the free play.

Oxford scored the first half's final try when, from Aaron Dobek’s offload, Kitson raced over despite the best efforts of Hawkyard to halt him.

Two minutes following the restart, Darren Hawkyard powered over for his second try of the season.

Ill-discipline slipped into the Blues' game and it cost them two quick-fire tries, with James Feather powering over after good work by Ross Peltier, who then crossed himself from ten metres.

After an afternoon of being the provider, Ritchie Hawkyard registered a try himself as he weaved and turned through an attempted tackle to cross from a Neil Cherryholme pass.

White then completed a comfortable afternoon's work for the Cougars as he grabbed his brace seven minutes from time, diving over in the corner from Adam Brook’s long pass before Oxford's Josh Nathaniel had the final say.

Cougars' semi-final at Skolars will take place on the weekend April 30-May 1. York City Knights host Gloucestershire All Golds in the other tie.