All golden for Cougars after hard-fought victory over Gloucestershire

KEIGHLEY Cougars moved to the top of Kingstone Press League One – despite being made to work for their victory over a spirited All Golds side.

Despite being under pressure for most of the game’s opening ten minutes, the Cougars broke the deadlock when, after a passing cross-field move, Hamish Barnes went over from Ritchie Hawkyard’s pass.

Gloucestershire’s tag of the best southern side in the division was showing as they threatened Keighley in attack, so it came as no surprise when Jimmy Rowland burrowed over from close range.

And the All Golds took the lead shortly after the game’s quarter mark when Rowland broke through and managed to evade the tacklers to get the offload to Brad Kislingbury who crashed over the line.

Paul March’s side re-took the lead in the 26th minute when, after the Cougars were awarded a dubious penalty for stealing in the tackle, Hawkyard got a no-look offload away to Charlie Martin who threw a dummy before diving over in the corner.

The Cougars could now sense blood themselves in attack and extended the lead shortly after the half hour mark when, after clever work by Barnes, Andy Gabriel offloaded out the tackle to Hawkyard to touch down.

It took the All Golds a whole minute to score the first try of the second half when a great pass by Rowland saw Joe McClean race through the Cougars backline to score underneath the posts.

Keighley restored their ten-point advantage shortly after though, when after winning a penalty, Barnes raced through to acrobatically score his second of the afternoon.

But Gloucestershire wouldn’t go down without a fight and brought themselves within one converted try of their hosts when Lamont Bryan powered his way through five would-be tacklers to get the ball down.

After an end-to-end ten minute period in which neither side really took control of the game, Keighley moved into a 12-point lead as Paul Handforth offloaded to Ash Lindsay who weaved his way through a wall of blue in front of him to score.

Adam Brook put two points on the board from a penalty before Scott Law sealed the points when he raced over beneath the sticks unchallenged from Handforth’s offload.

There was still time for one more try, as Andy Gabriel touched down on the hooter after a fantastic no-look pass through the legs from James Feather.