Keighley Cougars Academy 28

Leigh Centurions 41

A DISAPPOINTING first-half display set the tone for the Cougars Academy side as they opened their new season with a defeat against Leigh.

A failure to match the Centurions enthusiasm cost Keighley dear in the first period of play and they were caught out defensively time and again.

The lapses were particularly prevalent on the flanks where Leigh's outstanding wingers ran in two tries apiece, both scores being converted to leave Keighley facing an uphill struggle.

A further try from Leigh followed and at this point the game looked over with Centurions in dominant form.

However, Cougars were finally roused into action and hit back with a magnificent try scored by Rob Weir. The conversion was added by Jason Barnes.

If things looked bad at half time, they looked a sight worse just two minutes into the second half as Leigh added yet another try to leave the Academy side floundering at 34-6.

But if Leigh thought the Cougars were going to lay down and die, they could not have expected the turnaround that followed.

Keighley flung themselves into attack over the next 25 minutes and completely dominated their opponents to run in four tries and three excellent conversions by Barnes.

Minutes later, Marco Ferrazzano powered his way through and when Gareth Holmes scored soon after, the Cougars were right back in the game at 34-22.

And Keighley were not finished there. They managed to get within six points of Leigh at 34-28 with a Rob McDonald try and superb touchline conversion, again from Barnes.

Having clawed themselves back into contention, a little more composure could have seen Keighley add to their score but they lost the ball when on the line and Leigh made them pay dearly by going the full length of the pitch to score.

That try put the game beyond the reach of the Academy side but a brave display had seen them regain some pride after a woeful opening half lost them the game.