Keighley Cougars 10 Swinton Lions 20: Cougars’ worrying run drags out against Lions

Keighley’s Sean Hesketh barged over for the opening score after James Feather’s quick play the ball from Joe Chandler’s break downfield.

That lead did not last as player-coach Ian Watson and Gavin Bennion combined to play in James Mendieka for the touchdown in reply for the Lions.

Ryan Shaw then converted to give the visitors the lead going into the sheds.

Swinton took that momentum into the second half, with Mark Smith’s inside ball bamboozling the Keighley defence and finding Gavin Bennion, who crashed over.

Shaw added the two to give them an eight point lead.

Cougars then got themselves back into the game after March’s cut out pass found Paul White charging in at the corner.

Leatherbarrow hit home the conversion from the touchline to cut the deficit to two.

But it was not long before the Lions regained their previous advantage, as David Mills crossed on the back of some soft defence. Shaw once again improving.

The game was then won for the visitors when a penalty led to Shaw having a chance at goal, which he deliberately took his time over before goaling.

A short kick-off saw Keighley win the ball back and Hesketh went close to setting up a tense finish but was held up over the line before the visitors toughed out the rest of the match to end their winless run.

Keighley Cougars: Jones; White, Barnett, Williams, Duffy; March, Leatherbarrow; Hesketh, Feather, Shickell, Martin, Chandler, Emmit. Substitutes: Smith, Sheriffe, Law, Sagar.

Swinton Lions: Hawkyard; Penny, Ainscough, Shaw, Ormsby; Mendieka, Watson; Morrison, Dwyer, Holland, Hawkyard, Bridge, Hulme. Substitutes: Smith, Mills, Bennion, Barlow.

Referee: S Ganson (RFL).