Good times roll again for Cougars at Rochdale

4:10pm Wednesday 9th July 2008

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Rochdale Hornets 22 Keighley Cougars 36

A coach often learns more about his players and the strength of the team during times of adversity than when the good times roll.

On Sunday Keighley overcame Rochdale to secure back-to-back victories and the double over the Hornets.

But firstly they had to overcome the adversity of the sending off of centre Mick Fogerty in the 44th minute. He was guilty of a swinging arm which laid out his opposite number Chris Spurr.

Much like Spurr the Cougars took this on the chin and played for the next 36 minutes as if their lives depended on it. In spite of the home side's numerical advantage, at full-time Rochdale could only show a 54 per cent completion rate, as the visitors time and time again regrouped, assessed the situation before reasserting themselves to grind down Rochdale.

This victory more than any other underlined the improvements in Keighley's game this season and their strength of character.

These sentiments were echoed by Cougar head coach Barry Eaton, who said: "I thought the team spirit and character shone through massively in the second half. Overall we were deserved winners especially considering the sending off, which I have no complaints about. There was no malice in the lunge, it was just mistimed, but Foggy had to go."

Hornets coach Darren Shaw added: "In the second half we should have had the impetus and the game. But we only completed ten of 19 sets. Keighley, to their credit, forced us in to the pass and mistakes, so we turned the ball over on their terms."

A spritely opening gave no indication of the final score, as sets were traded before Sam Butterworth and Danny Jones exchanged penalties.

Jones then turned provider for Dan Potter's first score of the day. Seemingly wrapped up more firmly than a Christmas present by four Hornets, they relaxed their grip and gifted Jones the opportunity to smuggle the ball out to his centre Potter who careened over the chalk.

The conversion was missed. But five minutes later when Hornets hooker Janan Billings lost possession, the Cougars turned defence into offence, motoring the full length of the pitch within four plays. Potter slid in at the corner for his second and as Keighley celebrated the Hornets protestations about an initial forward pass to kick start the move went unheeded.

Again Jones was wayward with his goal attempt unlike his Rochdale counterpart who improved upon stand off's Martin Ainscough's jinking try after 25 minutes to narrow the Cougar lead to just two points.

As the Cougars sought to turn possession into points a knock-on could have proved costly for Potter and Keighley. In any event it deprived him of his hat-trick.

However, Jones was able to extend the lead when Rochdale were guilty of back chat to gift the Cougars a further two points and an 12-8 cushion.

The second half commenced to a hive of Hornets activity. Former Cougar Ian Sinfield capitalised on a rare Keighley defensive lapse to cross the whitewash when Jon Presley failed to hold Chris Hough's high kick.

Two minutes later Fogerty saw red for his tackling indiscretion. Instead of this having a detrimental effect, this galvanised the Cougar unit.

Their belief and bravery were magnificent and when Hough failed to find touch with his kick after 50 minutes Keighley punished him.

Brendan Rawlins barged up and over as four Hornets were swatted away by the burly Australian to once more create a six-point Keighley advantage.

Potter sought to extend it but a robust Rochdale defence turned him over on the line.

However, on the hour mark, Presley put in the kick which somehow full back Eric Andrews contrived to make a hash of which created a Cougar overlap, from which Greg Nicholson crashed over. The successful kick increased the scoreline to 24-12.

Former Halifax man Billings picked up where former Cougar Alex Brown left off to narrow the margin with his score.

But the visitors hit back immediately, aided by some poor defence and Potter magic.

When standing and offloading in the tackle Potter created a deserved try for captain James Feather.

From a quick play the ball Billings completed his brace and looked to have secured a bonus point for the Lancastrians.

However, super sub Craig Fawcett had other ideas, sniffing out a score to close the door and the game out. Fawcett scooted over from the scrum 40 metres out for a fine solo try.

The conversion completed a remarkable 36-22 victory over Rochdale against the odds, as once more the good times rolled.