Whitehaven 24, Keighley Cougars 10

Jason Demetriou admitted his Cougars were outfought and outworked after suffering their first loss of the Championship One season at Whitehaven.

A disastrous first half, when the Cumbrians scored four unanswered tries, led to a 24-10 defeat that knocked Keighley off the top of the table.

Demetriou’s side now sit third and he expects much better from his players in Sunday’s clash at home to much-fancied Oldham.

“In the first half Whitehaven were more enthusiastic and more aggressive than us,” said the Cougars player-coach.

“They bent us back and we gave away too many penalties and too much field position. It’s the first time since I’ve been here that we lacked enthusiasm and aggression, which was a bit worrying.

“But this game will stand us in good stead because it’s battle-hardened us and taught us a lesson.

“It was a lesson I’d rather learn now than later in the season.”

Whitehaven started strongly, with Craig Calvert, Loz Hamzat and Derry Eilbeck all touching down within the opening 30 minutes, Lewis Palfrey converting two of them.

David Ford also scored just before half-time, Palfrey converting, but the Cougars drastically improved after the break.

Dan Belcher scored within five minutes of the restart and although Palfrey kicked another goal, Scott Mc-Avoy’s sin-binning handed the visitors a chance.

But Keighley found the task just too great and could only muster a late consolation through Gav Duffy, Danny Lawton adding the extras.