Lopsided scoreline doesn't tell full story, says Keighley Cougars coach (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lopsided scoreline doesn't tell full story, says Keighley Cougars coach

7:28pm Sunday 3rd March 2013 in Sport By Ben Turner

Keighley Cougars 16 Leigh Centurions 46

Keighley Cougars’ winless run continued as Ryan Brierley’s hat-trick helped Leigh to a big win at Cougar Park.

It is Cougars’ fifth defeat on the bounce, despite a brace of tries for Richie Barnett putting them in an early lead against one of the Kingstone Press Championship’s leading teams.

Head coach Paul March was quick to point out the positives in his side’s performance and believed that they deserved more from the match.

“It was better from us today and we did some decent things in attack,” said March.

“Do I think our efforts deserved a bonus point? Yes, but some inconsistent refereeing decisions at vital times cost us, and Leigh were able to get a lot of points which didn’t really tell the story.”

Centurions' first attack saw them cross, after Bob Beswick’s stab through found Matt Gardner, who touched down.

But the home side hit back when they created an overlap down the left which saw Leatherbarrow feed Barnett for the score and he was over again when Paul White’s offload saw him squeeze his way over at the corner.

But that did not last long, as a swift passing move saw Tommy Goulden in for the score.

Brierley’s first try of the day then saw Leigh take an eight-point lead going into the sheds.

The second half started like the first ended, with the Centurions quickly over after Craig Briscoe crashed between the sticks, and Steve Maden then went in untouched to further extend their lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Keighley with a further two quick-fire tries against. Firstly, Ryan Duffy barged his way over from first receiver and the second came after Danny Jones knocked on, which saw Brierley pick up and race 100 metres to cross for his second.

A break, which started from midfield, eventually saw Gregg McNally play in Brierley for his hat-trick but March’s men had the last laugh when Jones burst through and found White rushing in down the left edge.

Keighley Cougars: White; Barnett, Sagar, Lawton, Duffy; Jones, Leatherbarrow; Hesketh, Feather, Shickell, Pursglove, Martin, Walker. Subs: Smith, Sheriffe, Law, Shepherd.

Leigh Centurions: McNally; Maden, Littler, Gardner, Pownall; Ridyard, Brierley, Taylor, Beswick, Spencer, Finnigan, Goulden, Hopkins. Subs: Penkywicz, Duffy, Briscoe, Ostick.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton.

Attendance: 859