Cougars avoid sting as Hornets bow out

An eight-try display, including two for winger Paul White, saw the Cougars dismantle a determined Cumbrian outfit that gave a good account of themselves throughout and were unfortunate to have two tries disallowed.

Keighley were nullified by their amateur opponents early on, making the Championship side wait 15 minutes to break the deadlock before Danny Lawton’s try.

Moments of danger were sparse for Keighley as further first-half tries from Josh Lynam, James Craven and White followed for a 20-0 lead at the break.

Keighley player-coach Paul March, who was serving the first of a four-game ban after being charged for questioning the integrity of a match official, saw his side put an additional four tries past their National Conference League opponents, with Paul Handforth in particular displaying Keighley’s superiority.

White scored his second try seven minutes into the second half with an expertly taken chance in the corner.

Handforth crossed from 20 meters out and then played a part in creating tries for Jack Lee and Lewis Graham to put the Cougars firmly into the next round of the competition, which will see the entry of all 14 First Utility Super League sides.

Keighley Cougars: Craven, Barnett, Lawton, Williams, White, Jones, Handforth, Shickell, Haigh, Hesketh, Lynam, Rawlins, Lindsay. Substitutes: Sheriffe, Cherryholme, Graham, Lee.

Wath Brow Hornets: Devine, Davidson, Caddy, King, Pink, Dixon, Watson, Dixon, Doran, Huby, Ramsden, Huby, Tomlinson. Substitutes: Agnew, Martin, McCarron, Martin.

Referee: D Sharpe (RFL).