Hunslet Hawks 12, Keighley Cougars 22

Keighley ended a run of three straight defeats by just edging out bottom side Hunslet in the Co-operative Championship today.

Cougars player-coach Jason Demetriou admitted his side went into the game lacking confidence and was just pleased to finally secure a win.

He said: "We knew Hunslet were going to graft hard - they were like that the last time we played them - but after a poor June, the most important thing was to secure three points.

"I thought defensively we needed to tighten up and our plan was to concede 12 or less points, and we did that.

"At the back end of the year we’ll hope to play a bit more expansive footy but this result will get us back on track."

Danny Lawton broke the deadlock with the only try in the first half by finding himself on the shoulder of Jamie Shepherd’s 40-yard break.

However, Sam Obst’s kick deep within his half went out on the full, and Keighley found themselves camped on their line, Anthony Henderson getting over for the Hawks.

Obst was looking to make amends for his earlier error, and he did just that as the former Wakefield man dummied his way in for a score between the sticks.

Craig Moss’s kick-return got a quick play-the-ball, and Gavin Duffy used it to his full advantage by breaking through the line and pinning his ears back to cross.

That breathing space was quickly relinquished, though, with Stuart Kain getting over for Hunslet.

But it was not long before Cougars found themselves back in the driving seat, as this time the impressive Moss went from provider to scorer on the back of Obst’s ball that set him clear to end the scoring.

Keighley: Moss, Barnett, Haythornthwaite, Lawton, Duffy, Demetriou, Obst, Shickell, Feather, Cherryholme, Pursglove, Rawlins, Shepherd. Subs: Wray, Clough, Sheriffe, Korkidas

Attendance: 505

Referee: Jamie Leahy