KEIGHLEY Cougars suffered a sixth defeat in seven games as an 18-4 loss to Rochdale Hornets left them winless in the Super Eights phase.

Paul March’s side can take some positives however, putting in a valiant effort throughout the game, with their defensive play improving massively from previous weeks.

That was especially after playing an hour with 12 men after Paul White was sent off for striking.

Cougars thought they had got off to the best possible start after three minutes when after a lovely exchange of passes, Paul Handforth dived over underneath the posts but the effort was ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up.

It would be the visitors who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when on the last, Adam Brook’s grubber fortunately bounced back into the half-backs hands and he squeezed his way over from a metre out.

The match officials struggled to keep control off the game with late challenges and dangerous tackles missed throughout, so it came as no surprise when things finally blew up in the 21st minute.

After White broke down the left flank he was caught by opposite number Corey Lee who appeared to head-butt the veteran winger on the floor. White’s retaliation led to a 26-man punch up which resulted in his eventual dismissal.

The Hornets finally managed to get on the scoreboard in the 52nd minute when, on the back of a penalty for offside, Jordan Case exposed a space in the Cougars line to race through and put the home side into a two-point lead.

The home side extended their midway through the half when after a set of fantastic on the line tackles, pressure finally paid off when Ben Moores raced across the line and sent Warren Thompson crashing over.

And with the final action off the afternoon, former Cougars loanee Samir Tahraoui shrugged off four would-be tacklers in black and gold to touch down as the hooter sounded – on the back of great work from Josh Crowley to get his side into position.