KEIGHLEY Cougars fought back from 12-0 down to win by one point at Halifax Panthers yesterday, ending a tough season on a high.
Ian Hardman’s side had spent much of the Betfred Championship campaign in mid-table, with an outside chance of the play-offs, but a terrible run of results sent them plunging down the table.
A thumping 90-6 win at beleaguered North Wales Crusaders gave them a boost last time out, but they will surely take more from this fine 19-18 comeback victory.
It had looked bleak for Keighley when former player Ben Crooks put Fax in front after just two minutes.
Kieran Rush, another man who has donned Cougars colours in the past, added the extras.
And he converted again on 11 minutes after Delaine Gittens’ try, which left Keighley staring down the barrel at another grim defeat.
But they avoided any further damage until half-time, and got on the board themselves when winger Brad Holroyd somehow squeezed over for a spectacular try in the corner.
And five minutes after the break, Holroyd was at it again.
He intercepted a rogue pass and ran 90 metres to score an interception try.
Joint-captain Matty Beharrell converted to move his side just 12-10 behind.
Yet Halifax looked to have regained the initiative when Ben Tibbs latched on to his own kick through to get over the line, despite Cougars complaining of a forward pass during the move.
Rush’s conversion made it 18-10, before Keighley fought back magnificently in the last 15 minutes.
George Flanagan, increasingly influential in the game, slipped over from dummy half to score, with Beharrell’s conversion reducing the gap to two points again.
Beharrell was controlling proceedings nicely, along with fellow half back Izaac Farrell, who had kicked a crucial 40/20 to give his side momentum.
With a few minutes left, Beharrell kicked a late penalty to draw Cougars level, before he landed a drop goal at the death to secure a memorable win.
It was Keighley's first victory at Halifax since 1997 and lifted them up to 16th in the 20-team table.
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