Keighley Cougars 24 Widnes Vikings 32: Keighley succumb to Craven hat-trick

A DANNY Craven hat-trick and four conversions by him was enough to stop Keighley ending their season in the Championship on a high note.

However, there was bad news for the victors when their Halifax-based prop Jim Gannon limped out of the play-offs with a brace on his knee to protect any futher damage to his medial ligament.

It was all Keighley in the first 25 minutes as they built up a 10-0 lead with tries by Gavin Duffy and James Hutchinson.

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Danny Jones converted the second try and added a penalty on the stroke of half-time to ensure his side went in at the break leading 12-10.

The Widnes tries came from rookie full-back Craven and Thomas Coyle, touching down in controversy for what looked offside, with Craven adding the extras to the latter's try.

Widnes were first on the scoresheet in the second half after just three minutes when 17-year-old winger Alex Brown collected a cross field kick from Jones and ran 75 metres to the try line.

Craven added his second and third tries before Steve Pickersgill completed their try count, with Craven adding three more goals.

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There was a late rally from the Cougars with Brendon Rawlins crossing in the 68th minute and Tom Burton, with Jones adding two further goals.

Keighley: Sheldrake, Duffy, Burton, Pursglove, Hutchinson, Helliwell, Jones, Shickell, Feather, Law, Cartledge, Baines, Nicholson. Substitutes: Wray, Haythornthwaite, Benjafield, Rawlins

Widnes: Craven, Brown, Varkulis, Scott, Gaskell, C Gerrard, Thackeray, Heckenberg, Netherton, Gannon, Doran, Kelly, Kavanagh. Substitutes: Coyle, Pickersgill, Grady, A Gerrard.

Referee: J Leahy (RLF).