Keighley Cougars 24 v 28 Batley Bulldogs (Kingstone Press Championship)
Following three defeats in a row and a disappointing collapse at Whitehaven last weekend, Keighley Cougars welcomed local rivals Batley Bulldogs to Cougar Park for another Yorkshire derby.
John Kear’s side deserved to edge the game and dominated proceedings in the first-half against a Keighley side boasting no fewer than four ex-Bulldogs in their ranks. Sam Scott opened the scoring in the 5th minute, converted by Scott Leatherbarrow, who then added a further two points from a penalty on 9 minutes to extend the visitors’ lead to 0-8.
There was a brief rally from the Cougars on 17 minutes when half-back Danny Jones converted his own try to reduce the arrears, but a second try from Scott, accompanied by a score from Greenwood just prior to the break gave the Bulldogs a healthy 6-18 half-time lead.
The half-time team talk must have been something special as the Cougars looked like a different team in the second half, Keighley scored three unanswered tries from Daley Williams, Richie Barnett and Jones’ second to edge into an unlikely 20-18 lead.
The game then quarter of the game was end to end, Josh Griffin’s try eleven minutes from time saw the pendulum swing back in favour of Batley, who took a 20-22 lead, with just two minutes left on the clock Barnett went over for a try to give the Cougars a 24-22 lead and what looked to be the first win in three games.
However in the last minute of play the bulldog’s went straight back up the field and Miles Greenwood’s scored a last-gasp heroic try to give Batley a 20-28 points win after the conversion to secure all three points. Keighley will now travel to Sheffield Eagles on Sunday looking to get back to winning ways.
Match Details
Keighley Cougars – Craven, White, Haley, Williams, Barnett, Jones, Handforth, Shickell, Feather, Hesketh, Graham, Rawlins, Lindsay (Subs) Haigh, Sheriffe, Peltier, Lee
Batley Bulldogs – Greenwood, Finigan, Patterson, Griffin, Brown, Black, Leatherbarrow, Smith, Blake, Hirst, Bretherton, Applegarth, Scott (Subs) Nicholson, Rowe, Mullally, Chandler
Trys – (Keighley) Jones (2), Williams, Barnett (2) (Batley) Scott (2), Greenwood (2), Griffin
Conversions – (Keighley) Jones (2) (Batley) Leatherbarrow (4)
Attendance – 913
