Blackpool Panthers 22 Keighley Cougars 24: Duffy nicks Cougars victory

Keighley Cougars made a winning start to the season as they came from behind to win 24-22 at Blackpool in their Northern Rail Cup opener.

Danny Jones kicked an early penalty for the Cougars but Blackpool then charged into a 16-2 lead.

And the visitors did not lead again until the 68th minute, when Gavin Duffy scored what proved to be the decisive try.

Blackpool led 12-2 at half-time after two tries in four minutes midway through the first half by Tom Woodcock and Damian Munro.

A Martin Ainscough try just after the break put the Panthers further ahead but they then had Dave Best sin-binned in the 48th minute.

Keighley replied with Brendan Rawlins and Dan Belcher scoring under the posts, although Kris Ratcliffe kept Blackpool clear with a

58th-minute try. But the Cougars fought back late on with young substitute James Haythornthwaite and Duffy touching down to secure victory.

"It's always tough when we come here but we managed to squeeze home," said Keighley coach Barry Eaton. "Although it was a pretty equal first 20 minutes, Blackpool upped the intensity and put a couple of scores on us, and we were left feeling sorry for ourselves."

Blackpool: Ballard, Munroe, Mayberry, Ainscough, Woodcock, Forber, Hemingway, Anderson, Keavney, A. Hodson, Ratcliffe, Alcock, Haggerty. Substitutes: Best, Clough, Svabic, McCully.

Keighley: Belcher, Moss, Burton, Williams, Duffy, Presley, Jones, Shickell, Feather, Law, Cartledge, Pursglove, Nicholson. Substitutes: Wray, Rawlins, Benjafield, Haythornthwaite.

Referee: D Merrick (RFL).