Cougars beat Raiders 42-12 on historic afternoon

On an historic afternoon in Llanelli, James Feather made his 344th appearance for the club to break the record of the late Phil Stephenson. To add the emotion of the occasion, Phil’s nephew Alix made his debut after recovering from a broken leg in pre-season. A third generation of the family to represent the club.

The Cougars struck early with Jack Miller taking a quick tap and finding a gap on the line to dive over on the back of a penalty. Moments after Kyle Kesik saw an effort ruled out for a dropped ball.

It was all Keighley in the opening quarter and they struck again as a Miller kick to the corner was caught by winger Josh Slingsby who beat his opposite number to touch down in the corner.

The visitors continued in the same vein and Miller and Slingsby were both denied tries through forward passes before the Raiders hit back. A high bomb on the last tackle was spilled in goal and Will Ramsey pounced to touch down.

This was a minor blip for Rhys Lovegrove’s side as they replied when full-back Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e broke a tackle to race home from 50 yards.

Ramsey was forced from the field with a head injury, adding to West Wales’ woes, before Keighley’s Jake Webster crashed over from close range.

Con Mika was placed on report for an incident in a tackle as Cougars led 20-6 at the break before a tiring home outfit were punished further. Miller raced in at the sticks for a second after a break from Webster, before quick thinking by Kesik created a gap for Josh Lynam to touch down.

Feather went close but spilled a pass with the line beckoning before Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e squeezed over at the corner after a quick pass from Jason Muranka.

The hosts replied with a Phil Cowburn try before having Ashley Bateman yellow carded for questioning a decision.

Four minutes from time Miller capped a fine display by completing his hat-trick. He chased down his own grubber on the last and touched down beneath the crossbar.