Batley Bulldogs 8 Keighley Cougars 10: Keighley battle back to ensure Bulldogs fail to build on bright opening

But those early expectations were never realised against well-drilled, enthusiastic Keighley Cougars who tackled Batley out of the game, snatched an equalising try on the half-time hooter and went on to grab a winning score 11 minutes from time.

Batley scored on their first spell of possession. Fine approach work by Ben Black, Jason Walton and Gareth Potts saw them threaten the line before Black’s high kick was collected by Gareth Moore to score between the sticks and then add the conversion.

Twenty minutes later it looked as though Black had sent Walton over the line but the ‘try’ was disallowed for a forward pass as was a similar ‘touchdown’ four minutes later by Keighley coach Jason Demetriou.

But the Cougars were applying lots of pressure and though several moves broke down under Batley’s tight defence a slick piece of passing saw Jy-Mel Coleman dive over in the corner for a converted try in the 39th minute.

The second half saw Keighley forwards increase their pressure with some splendid running but Batley crept ahead when Moore landed a penalty in the 59th minute.

It was not enough, however, to thwart the Keighley pack, directed imaginatively by stand-off Danny Jones. His grubber kick across the line just outpaced the Cougar attackers but moments later Batley gifted scrum possession to the visitors.

From the scrum the ball was switched slickly one way and then the other by Keighley until Jones once again stretched the defence and sent eager centre James Haythornthwaite over to score the all-important touchdown.

Batley Bulldogs: Preece; Potts, Walton, Maun, Brown; Black, Moore; Smith, Mennell, Potter, Walker, Scott, Lythe. Substitutes (all used): Toohey, Frodsham, Applegarth, Lindsay.

Keighley Cougars: Moss; Barnett, Haythornthwaite, Lawton, Tadulala; Jones, Obst; Korkidas, Feather, Cherryholme, Pursglove, Jones, Coleman. Substitutes: March, Demetriou, Sheriffe, Shickell.

Referee: Clint Sharrad.