The Cougars had nothing to gain by winning this fixture as Halifax and Hull KR were the only teams battling it out for top spot in this the final round of the Trains Cup. The Easter fixtures had Keighley first at home to Fax on Good Friday and Blackpool, their first league fixture, away at Preston Grasshoppers ground on Easter Monday. It would have been easy for the Cougars to just do the rounds with one eye on the first league game three days later, but against Halifax, at home, and in front of a good crowd, that wasnt the case.
The Cougars have had some special games when played on Friday nights and this one was looking like another classic. The first half was a superb forty minutes of rugby league with both teams scoring excellent tries, from brilliant approach work, played out with aggression and control.
Cougars were the first to score after powerful running down the slope. The game was only a minute old when Paul Ashton sent out a cracking pass on to the strong running Matthew Steele who scored a great try which was converted by try maker Ashton. The Cougars were buoyed by the early lead and were certainly up for a battle; however six minutes later Pat Weisner strode in for Halifax after they were awarded a penalty after fighting between Phil Stephenson and Ryan McDonald, both sin-binned, Jamie Bloem converting. Two minutes later Fax were in again with Chris Birchall and with Bloem converting the try, Halifax were looking strong.
The Cougars werent ready to lie down. Matty Firth kicked over the top which was then hacked on for new boy Sam Gardener to score to the right of the posts, Ashton converting. At twelve points each the game was finely poised but it was against the run of play and with Halifax given field position by the referee, they went in with James Haley. Dean Lawford swung out a massive pass to the unguarded Haley who scored in the corner for an unconverted try.
To their credit the Cougars soaked up the pressure from the visitors and eventually turned defense into attack. The Cougars raided the Halifax line, twice making the visitors run the ball out from deep and twice dumping the attacker in to touch. This pressure eventually told with Matt Bramald crossing for the Cougars, Ashton adding a great kick from the touch line.
With the halftime score at 18 16 the Cougars would be asked for similar in the second period, the same defense, the same patient attack and strict discipline. Unfortunately Halifax were given different orders. Attack Attack Attack.
The second forty was run by Scrumhalf Ben Black (two tries), Fereti Tuilagi (one try) and Rikki Sheriffe who constantly ran the ball out from deep. With further tries from Spink and James Haley going in for his second plus Jamie Bloem ending his haul with seven conversions, the game was over.
It was fitting for Freddy Tuilagi to score the try that secured Halifax top spot in the Trains Cup and it was certainly a popular try with the Halifax faithful.
The Cougars can take great things from this game and indeed the Trains Cup. With Matthew Steele going on to score his second try in the game and securing the number twelve jersey for the season, the inspirational Danny Murgatroyd partnering Phil Stephenson so well and Matt Bramald in great form the whole team are looking excellent value for the forth coming season. Matty Firth has never looked as good at number seven, Jordan Ross will be a huge force and as long as Paul Ashton controls his temper he should get the opportunity to run the second division ragged.
Keighley Cougars 24 50 Halifax
MOM. Matthew Steele
Attendance 1404
The Cougars have had some special games when played on Friday nights and this one was looking like another classic. The first half was a superb forty minutes of rugby league with both teams scoring excellent tries, from brilliant approach work, played out with aggression and control.
Cougars were the first to score after powerful running down the slope. The game was only a minute old when Paul Ashton sent out a cracking pass on to the strong running Matthew Steele who scored a great try which was converted by try maker Ashton. The Cougars were buoyed by the early lead and were certainly up for a battle; however six minutes later Pat Weisner strode in for Halifax after they were awarded a penalty after fighting between Phil Stephenson and Ryan McDonald, both sin-binned, Jamie Bloem converting. Two minutes later Fax were in again with Chris Birchall and with Bloem converting the try, Halifax were looking strong.
The Cougars werent ready to lie down. Matty Firth kicked over the top which was then hacked on for new boy Sam Gardener to score to the right of the posts, Ashton converting. At twelve points each the game was finely poised but it was against the run of play and with Halifax given field position by the referee, they went in with James Haley. Dean Lawford swung out a massive pass to the unguarded Haley who scored in the corner for an unconverted try.
To their credit the Cougars soaked up the pressure from the visitors and eventually turned defense into attack. The Cougars raided the Halifax line, twice making the visitors run the ball out from deep and twice dumping the attacker in to touch. This pressure eventually told with Matt Bramald crossing for the Cougars, Ashton adding a great kick from the touch line.
With the halftime score at 18 16 the Cougars would be asked for similar in the second period, the same defense, the same patient attack and strict discipline. Unfortunately Halifax were given different orders. Attack Attack Attack.
The second forty was run by Scrumhalf Ben Black (two tries), Fereti Tuilagi (one try) and Rikki Sheriffe who constantly ran the ball out from deep. With further tries from Spink and James Haley going in for his second plus Jamie Bloem ending his haul with seven conversions, the game was over.
It was fitting for Freddy Tuilagi to score the try that secured Halifax top spot in the Trains Cup and it was certainly a popular try with the Halifax faithful.
The Cougars can take great things from this game and indeed the Trains Cup. With Matthew Steele going on to score his second try in the game and securing the number twelve jersey for the season, the inspirational Danny Murgatroyd partnering Phil Stephenson so well and Matt Bramald in great form the whole team are looking excellent value for the forth coming season. Matty Firth has never looked as good at number seven, Jordan Ross will be a huge force and as long as Paul Ashton controls his temper he should get the opportunity to run the second division ragged.
Keighley Cougars 24 50 Halifax
MOM. Matthew Steele
Attendance 1404
