Keighley Cougars 8 Hunslet Hawks 18

HEAD coach Paul March was left bitterly frustrated after Cougars slumped to a disappointing home defeat at the hands of in-form Hunslet, who racked up their fifth straight win.

The visitors, who fielded a trio of former Keighley players in Richie Barnett, Lewis Reed and Jake Normington, ran out worthy victors as they leapfrogged the hosts into sixth spot.

Matt Bramald’s men led 12-8 at the break following scores from Danny Ansell and Kyran Johnson before Adam Brook and Paul White replied for Cougars with unconverted scores.

The first try in the second period was always going to be crucial and it went to Hunslet as Stewart Sanderson touched down in the 48th minute, leaving Cougars with one win in six games.

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood was in a disappointing crowd of 384 along with good friend and actor Adam Fogerty, while Barry Eaton, who coached both clubs, provided analysis for local radio.

Cougars began the game in inauspicious fashion when Hamish Barnes dropped the ball from the kick-off and the visitors led in the sixth minute.

After Hawks full back Jimmy Watson had a try ruled out for a forward pass by Jack Lee, the visitors claimed a legitimate score when Ansell danced his way past on-loan Bradford prop Jonny Walker all too easily to scamper over the line.

It was all Hunslet early on and centre Mufaro Mvududu dropped the ball close to the whitewash before being held up over the line by two Cougars defenders.

Reed and Normington then combined to send Barnett over the line in the left corner but there had again been a forward pass in the build-up.

Walker was replaced by Jode Sheriffe up front for Cougars but it was Hunslet who continued to look the more threatening.

Johnson barrelled over the line inside the right channel in the 25th minute but Cougars hit back five minutes later when Brook collected a pass from Paul Handforth 10 metres out and darted through a gap in the Hunslet rearguard.

Shortly before half-time, Handforth and Sheriffe combined to send White over in the left corner but Brook failed to convert either try to make it 12-8 to Hunslet at the break.

They grabbed a third in the 48th minute when Sanderson leapt to collect a kick from Danny Thomas inside the right channel before Ansell landed his third conversion.

Chances continued as Reed and Ansell combined superbly in midfield before former Bulls junior George Flanagan knocked on as he attempted to take Ansell’s pass.

At the other end, James Feather was held up over the line before Ritchie Hawkyard found White with a fine pass only for the winger to knock on.

Frustration was everywhere and, as tensions mounted, Normington punched Rikki Sheriffe and was promptly sinbinned just before the hour but Hunslet saw the game out comfortably.