Cougars hurt Hornets with second-half romp

Keighley Cougars impressed once again as they cruised past Championship new boys Rochdale Hornets.

Four tries for winger Paul White along with further efforts from Paul March, Lewis Graham and Paul Handforth sealed what proved a convincing win for the visitors.

Back-to-back home defeats for the Hornets meant Keighley were able to get back to winning ways after they were beaten last week at Doncaster.

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Gareth Langley scored two early unconverted tries for the home side as Ian Talbot’s men came out of the blocks well.

Hornets took the lead going in at half-time with another try, this time from Matty Dawson who was set up delightfully by Fijian international Ryan Millard.

Despite a poor first half Keighley stayed in touch with Rochdale with a good solo try from Handforth and the first of White’s four efforts.

The Cougars roared past Rochdale in the second half with White sealing his hat-trick thanks to a little help from the kicking boot of Handforth in the 52nd minute.

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White added another try to his name 15 minutes from time and it was a double whammy against the Hornets as James Dandy saw yellow from referee Crashley moments later following a poor tackle.

A strong individual try from March and a smooth Cougar effort on the hooter for Graham ended a quality second half for the Yorkshire side.

Rochdale Hornets: Casey, Langley, Davies, Dawson, Te’o, Crook, Millard, Walker, Dandy, Thompson, Greenwood, Flanagan, Suffolk Substitutes: Dwyer, Case, Cookson, Marsh.

Keighley Cougars: Craven, Barnett, Cosgrove, Laughton, White, Jones, Handforth, Schidkel, Haigh, Hesketh, Lynam, Rawlings, Lindsay. Substitutes: March, Graham, Sheriffe, Cherryholme.

Referee: T Crashley (RFL).

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n Leaders Leigh ran up 52 points for the third successive week, with half-back Ryan Brierley taking his tally to 11 tries in three matches in a 52-0 rout of Whitehaven.

Centre Tom Armstrong scored twice in two minutes in the first half and Gregg McNally, Tommy Goulden, Jake Emmitt and Liam Kay also got tries for the Centurions, who have conceded just 20 points in three games so far.