Hunslet Hawks 18 Keighley Cougars 22: Late blast from Haughey still not enough to prevent Hawks’ defeat

Keighley Cougars ‘marched’ to a third successive victory as Paul March took the bragging rights from his twin brother David.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Apr 2013, 09:33 BST
Tommy HaugheyTommy Haughey
Tommy Haughey

A second half hat-trick of tries by second row forward Tommy Haughey revived Hunslet’s hopes, but the Cougars were able to hold on.

Keighley player-coach Paul was unable to play, as he is serving a two-match ban, but he dictated the tactics from the sidelines and saw his side take a 12th-minute lead through stand-off and acting captain Danny Jones.

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Hunslet winger Waine Pryce failed to gather a Keighley kick-through and the Cougars made him pay in subsequent play as Jones plunged over for the first try, Scott Leatherbarrow converting.

Jones then turned try-maker with a superb pass for centre Daley Williams to score.

Stand-off Danny Grimshaw, who had been a doubtful starter, finished off a slick passing move for Hunslet’s opening try, but Leatherbarrow maintained his recent improved form for Keighley, his shrewd kick infield allowing full-back Paul White to gather and touch down.

Leatherbarrow then added the goal to establish a 16-4 interval lead.

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Jimmy Keinhorst lost possession a yard short of the line as Hunslet threatened early in the second half, but powerhouse prop Sean Hesketh charged on to Ryan Smith’s short pass to go in between the posts and plunder Keighley’s fourth try.

Leatherbarrow again added the extras, landing his third goal of the game.

The Hawks needed some stout defending to restrict the damage, but when they eventually broke outside their own half, half-backs Grimshaw and Luke Helliwell combined to send Haughey in for the first of his three tries to test Keighley’s nerve and narrow the gap to four points, although the visitors were able to hold on.

Hunslet Hawks: Watson; Pryce, Keinhorst, Welham, Chisholm; Grimshaw, Ansell; Yates, Haigh, Menzies, Haughey, Oakes, D March. Substitutes: Hughes, Helliwell, Houston, Lewis.

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Keighley Cougars: White; Barnett, Williams, Cosgrove, Duffy; Jones, Leatherbarrow; Hesketh, Feather, Reed, Pursglove, Chandler, Rawlins. Substitutes: Smith, Law, Shickell, Shepherd.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).