Doncaster 28 Keighley Cougars 14

KEIGHLEY Cougars missed the chance to leapfrog their hosts as they fell to a second successive League One defeat.

After their high-scoring loss to Barrow the week before, the first half was very much the opposite as defences were on top.

The game's first real opportunity did not come until the 26th minute when Harry Aaronson dived over in the corner for the visitors but his effort was ruled out as he was deemed in touch.

From the resulting tap, the referee awarded Doncaster a penalty from which they made their way down field before Jason Tali crossed from ten metres out to break the deadlock.

Cougars hit back immediately though following a penalty of their own as Brendon Rawlins got an offload away out ogf the tackle, allowing Will Milner and Liam Darville to link up and send Nathan Conroy through to touch down.

Doncaster restored their six-point advantage shortly before the interval after Tali broke the Cougars line. Richie Barnett weaved his way inside from the wing before he got the crucial offload away under pressure to Ryan Wright, who raced behind the uprights.

Keighley had the final say in the half as Adam Ryder powered his way through three Doncaster defenders to crash over the line but they trailed 12-10 at the interval as Matty Beharrell just dragged his conversion narrowly wide.

Following the restart, the visitors took the lead for the first time of the afternoon when Ryder scored his second in the same fashion, powering through three would-be tacklers to get him over the line.

The lead only lasted four minutes as Cougars conceded a soft try close to their own line as Russ Spiers shrugged off a couple of defenders to force his way over.

Craig Lingard’s side then become their own worst enemy to concede a fourth try as Beharrell’s chip over the top failed to beat the first man.

From the resulting play the ball, former Keighley player Charlie Martin broke through and raced half the length of the field, drawing in Darville to enable himself to offload to Jordan Howden, who strolled over.

The hosts extended their lead to see out the victory through two penalty conversions as Jack Miller coolly slotted over on both occasions following an offside and shoulder charge.

Victory put Doncaster three points clear of Cougars, who are in eighth spot.