Keighley Cougars are own worst enemies in defeat to Barrow

COUGARS suffered a heavy defeat at Barrow Raiders after a lacklustre display in Cumbria.

An error-strewn opening quarter led to a difficult afternoon and Barrow broke the deadlock through Andy Litherland. Keighley were penalised for not standing square and Ryan Fieldhouse got an offload to the wing for Litherland to cross.

Jamie Dalimore set up Barrow’s second try as he opened up space in the line to send Joe Bullock marauding over from close range.

Cougars were their own worst enemies and fell further behind when the defence froze on the spot, allowing Dallimore the opportunity to weave his way through to score.

Barrow had the game by the scruff of the neck and, after forcing the knock-on, inflicted further damage when Jarrad Stack powered his way over from three metres.

Keighley managed to hold Barrow out from further scores until, on the hooter, Dan Abram squeezed over from Fieldhouse’s play-the-ball to send Raiders into the interval with a 30-point advantage.

Cougars finally had a stroke of luck when Bullock knocked on from the kick-off and, from the resulting scrum, Sean Kelly was held up before Harry Aaronson sent Josh Casey over.

Indiscipline crept back into the Cougars game and resulted in Casey being sin-binned for serious foul play after a wreckless challenge on Bullock.

A scrum followed, and Litherland took the offload out of the ruck and slid his way over the line for his second try of the afternoon.

Cougars were quick to reply at the other end, however, when Adam Ryder crossed from close range after the visitors were awarded a penalty on the line for holding in the tackle.

Luke Cresswell thought he was over for the Raiders but Dallimore’s pass was deemed forward by the official.

Barrow did cross again though when Abram returned a Beharrell kick half the length of the field before the ball was worked across to the right wing, where Tom Loxham finished the move by diving in the corner.

Keighley thought they had the final say as they worked the ball across to the left from a scrum for Callum Dunne to race over, but Shane Toal had other ideas as he crossed next to the posts.