Keighley Cougars 12 Whitehaven 16: Tigers duo unable to stop Keighley’s defeat

The visitors were able to call upon St Helens duo Ade Gardner and Anthony Walker, while the Cougars side saw Castleford forwards Jake Emmit and Charlie Martin feature.

Keighley created all of the early pressure but, after more than 20 minutes camped on the visitors’ line, that pressure came to nothing and it cost them.

On the back of a penalty and some good work out wide from both Jamie Rooney and Cain Southernwood in the previous tackle, Lee Patterson was able to barge his way over from first receiver.

Cougars were then caught napping from the first set after the kick-off, as Gardner burst through from halfway down the left and fed in Southernwood through the middle.

Rooney added the extras to put Whitehaven 10 in front.

The home side were able to strike back four minutes into the second half when Ryan Smith scooted his way over from dummy half.

Leatherbarrow added the conversion to reduce the deficit to four.

Keighley saw their momentum from that score fail to bare fruit, though, and once again they were made to pay when Rooney’s deft stab in goal was pounced on by full-back Thorman. Rooney tagged on the extras to regain their 10-point lead.

But that did not last long, as Feather managed to get a score moments later. Leatherbarrow kicked the goal but Whitehaven managed to hold for the win.

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

Whitehaven: Thorman; Fleming, McAvoy, Parker, Gardner; Rooney, Southernwood; Jackson, Newton, Martins, Clark, Wilson, Patterson. Substitutes: Sice, Houghton, Cameron,Walker.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).