KEIGHLEY Cougars fell to a second League One defeat of the season as they suffered a 26-12 loss at York City Knights.

Despite the scoreline, Keighley were vastly improved from the side that limped to defeat against Bradford Bulls a fortnight previous and the improvement pleased head coach Craig Lingard.

“The attitude was spot on, I’m pleased with the performance but just disappointed we couldn’t get the result,” said Lingard.

“The game hinged on a couple of really key parts, especially early in the second half, but they went against us today but that’s sport and that’s rugby league and it happens sometimes.

“We ended up with only 15 players for the majority of the game as we lost Samir Tahraoui and Jose Kenga to injuries and it meant our middles had to do a bigger shift than anticipated but I’m proud of how the lads continued to get stuck in.

“It was an improvement from the Bradford game, the effort and enthusiasm that the lads put in was the reaction that we were looking for.

“We’ve come together as a group over the last two weeks and as a result become closer as a team and I know the fans were disappointed after the Bradford game as we were.

“I know it’s easy to accuse people of not trying and not caring on the back of heavy defeats but that couldn’t be further from the truth because the guys care massively and so do I and the coaching staff.

“We’re doing everything we can to turn our fortunes around as we’ve got a tough start to the season and we now look to and prepare for the Good Friday game at Hunslet.”

The Cougars fell behind in the seventh minute when, from a drop-out, Tim Spears took advantage of a missed tackle to race through from 20 metres despite the best efforts of Ritchie Hawkyard to prevent the try.

Keighley brought themselves level on the back of a penalty when Benn Hardcastle delayed his short pass to Perry Whiteley, who in turn squeezed himself over to score on his debut.

York took the lead for the second time in the game in the 24th minute as ex-Cougar Jake Normington managed to see off the interests of Adam Ryder to crash over from close range.

The opening to the second half showed how quick a game of rugby league can change as Connor Robinson's kick-off went out on the full. From what could have been a levelling try, the Cougars found themselves two scores down.

Lewis Fairhurst tried a grubber on the last and the ball hit the leg of Joe Batchelor. The back-rower made it count as he picked the loose ball off the ground and raced 95 metres to score in the corner.

There were two tries disallowed in the space of a minute with Judah Mazive’s effort for the Knights being ruled out for failing to ground the ball correctly.

Harry Aaronson then saw his attempt for the visitors ruled out for a foot in touch with players from both side’s admitting following the match that it was a legitimate effort.

The hosts then put the game to bed when, after a Robinson penalty was dragged wide of the posts, the resulting drop-out saw Will Jubb burrow his way over from dummy half.

Barnes reduced the deficit in grabbing a try when he raced 50 metres after being quickest to a wild pass from Spears.

York extended their lead though as Robinson took the two on offer after Mike Emmett was penalised for interference for the afternoon’s final points.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Cougars: Hawkyard 7; Aaronson 6; Barnes 6; Ryder 6; Gabriel 7; Hardcastle 5; Fairhurst 5; Kenga 6; Wright 6; Bailey 6; Whiteley 7; Tonks 6; Emmett 5. Subs: Law 5; Lynam 6; Tahraoui 5; Gaylor 5.

Knights: Robson 5; Moss 7; Normington 6; Hey 5; Mazive 6; Cockayne 5; C Robinson 6; Horne 7; Jubb 7; Johnson 5; Batchelor 6; Scott 6; Spears 6. Subs: A Robinson 6; Siddons 5; Jackson 5; Roche 6.

MATCH FACTS

Cougars - Tries: Whiteley (14); Barnes (64). Goals: Hardcastle (2/2)

Knights: Tries: Spears (7); Normington (24); Batchelor (42); Jubb (53). Goals: C Robinson (5/5)

Attendance: 1,481

Referee: Tom Grant (Dewsbury)