This time last year the Cougars had enjoyed a reasonably good run in the Ariva trains cup playing good open rugby backed up by a solid defense. It was their meeting with amateurs Dudley Hill in the Challenge cup that the Cougar train was well and truly derailed. Twelve months later Keighley were up against the relatively unknown Strela Kazan from Kazakhstan (Russia) and had prepared well enough not to let the previous years disappointments happen again.
The National anthems got the game off to a great start and certainly Strela Kazan started the stronger, the first five minutes of play completely belonging to the visitors. Loose forward Azat Musin rampaged down the Cougar slope well backed up by his more than capable pack. With a forty twenty from the Russians and the Cougars forced to drop out, they were under huge pressure and certainly defended well to keep the very enthusiastic visitors out. Unfortunately for Strela it wasnt to last. Dave Foster broke well from deep down the right and with Harvey in support; he released Matt Bramald for a well converted try. This was to set the theme for the rest of the game.
Five minutes later the Cougars were in again after Ashton kicked to the corner for a great try for Matt Foster after a good exchange of passes between Foster and Robinson, Ashton missing the conversion. With the Russians struggling to contain the Keighley forwards rampaging up the field it was disappointing to see Kazan lose a player to the sinbin for offside, harshly in my opinion. However the Cougars capitalised with two tries from Firth and the pick of the Cougar tries from Phil Stephenson, who raced in from 20 meters out throwing two beautiful dummies to the waiting defense to score under the posts. All three tries converted by Ashton.
At 28 0 the game was all but over however nobody had told Strela Kazan. After superb approach work from the enthusiastic pack the kick was put through for the very lively Maxim Keller to stride through to collect and score for an unconverted but well appreciated try. This was a real purple patch for the visitors and they really looked good value as once again they caught Keighley cold. Again from another deft kick through, hooker Alexander Napalkov collected his own kick to score a great try, this time converted by Artemenko. Needless to say it was against the run of play that the final try of the half came from the Cougars with Lewis Taylor who outpaced the Russian defense from 50 meters out to score his first and a very popular try for the club.
The second half saw the Cougars playing down hill and it was no surprise that they went on to kill the game. Matt Bramald went in to score a second half hatrick to bring his final haul to four tries, Johny Wainhouse scored one from close and Lewis Taylor finished off with a brace scoring his second after another storming run and again from about fifty meters out showing he has great pace to spare for a man of his size. Three tries converted by Ashton and one by Mitchell in his absence.
The best try of the half however has to go to Strela Kazans Maxim Keller who dived in at the corner for his second try, this after excellent approach work and quick play of the ball from a very tired team.
Strela Kazan attacked with real flair and if it wasnt for the last pass going astray or solid defending from the Cougars they could have scored more. In defense they were poor often allowing the Cougars, in the shape of the forwards to continually break free of the tackle to run free and often with support. Loose forward Musin and hooker Napalkov shone for Kazan and were well supported by a very enthusiastic visiting team.
The Cougars attacked very well and in Matt Bramald have a real attacking force. Daniel Harvey continues to offer options whilst Paul Ashton looked very sharp in the second half. Hooker Johny Wainhouse is really starting to find his feet and starting to boss the field; Danny Murgatroyd is excellent value as a partner for Stevo and in Lewis Taylor we have young arrogance, which all bodes well if we can put it all together against league opposition.
Keighley Cougars 62 14 Strela Kazan
M.O.M: Matt Bramald
SK M.O.M: Napalkov
Attendance: 1176
The National anthems got the game off to a great start and certainly Strela Kazan started the stronger, the first five minutes of play completely belonging to the visitors. Loose forward Azat Musin rampaged down the Cougar slope well backed up by his more than capable pack. With a forty twenty from the Russians and the Cougars forced to drop out, they were under huge pressure and certainly defended well to keep the very enthusiastic visitors out. Unfortunately for Strela it wasnt to last. Dave Foster broke well from deep down the right and with Harvey in support; he released Matt Bramald for a well converted try. This was to set the theme for the rest of the game.
Five minutes later the Cougars were in again after Ashton kicked to the corner for a great try for Matt Foster after a good exchange of passes between Foster and Robinson, Ashton missing the conversion. With the Russians struggling to contain the Keighley forwards rampaging up the field it was disappointing to see Kazan lose a player to the sinbin for offside, harshly in my opinion. However the Cougars capitalised with two tries from Firth and the pick of the Cougar tries from Phil Stephenson, who raced in from 20 meters out throwing two beautiful dummies to the waiting defense to score under the posts. All three tries converted by Ashton.
At 28 0 the game was all but over however nobody had told Strela Kazan. After superb approach work from the enthusiastic pack the kick was put through for the very lively Maxim Keller to stride through to collect and score for an unconverted but well appreciated try. This was a real purple patch for the visitors and they really looked good value as once again they caught Keighley cold. Again from another deft kick through, hooker Alexander Napalkov collected his own kick to score a great try, this time converted by Artemenko. Needless to say it was against the run of play that the final try of the half came from the Cougars with Lewis Taylor who outpaced the Russian defense from 50 meters out to score his first and a very popular try for the club.
The second half saw the Cougars playing down hill and it was no surprise that they went on to kill the game. Matt Bramald went in to score a second half hatrick to bring his final haul to four tries, Johny Wainhouse scored one from close and Lewis Taylor finished off with a brace scoring his second after another storming run and again from about fifty meters out showing he has great pace to spare for a man of his size. Three tries converted by Ashton and one by Mitchell in his absence.
The best try of the half however has to go to Strela Kazans Maxim Keller who dived in at the corner for his second try, this after excellent approach work and quick play of the ball from a very tired team.
Strela Kazan attacked with real flair and if it wasnt for the last pass going astray or solid defending from the Cougars they could have scored more. In defense they were poor often allowing the Cougars, in the shape of the forwards to continually break free of the tackle to run free and often with support. Loose forward Musin and hooker Napalkov shone for Kazan and were well supported by a very enthusiastic visiting team.
The Cougars attacked very well and in Matt Bramald have a real attacking force. Daniel Harvey continues to offer options whilst Paul Ashton looked very sharp in the second half. Hooker Johny Wainhouse is really starting to find his feet and starting to boss the field; Danny Murgatroyd is excellent value as a partner for Stevo and in Lewis Taylor we have young arrogance, which all bodes well if we can put it all together against league opposition.
Keighley Cougars 62 14 Strela Kazan
M.O.M: Matt Bramald
SK M.O.M: Napalkov
Attendance: 1176
