Oldham 31 Keighley 20: Second chance awaits Cougars despite setback

Keighley Cougars will get another crack at promotion after being denied an immediate route back to the Championship in yesterday’s Promotion Final.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Sep 2015, 06:48 BST
Keighley's Paul HandforthKeighley's Paul Handforth
Keighley's Paul Handforth

Oldham Roughyeds were simply too vibrant for Paul March’s side as they ended their miserable record on the big stage.

Oldham had lost six promotion deciders in the past eight years, including last season’s Grand Final against Hunslet Hawks at Headingley, but they merited this success at the Whitebank Stadium in front of a 1,405 crowd.

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Keighley will now host North Wales Crusaders on Sunday in a play-off semi-final as they bid to reach the Grand Final against Swinton or York at Widnes.

Cougars player-coach March admitted: “Oldham deserved it on the day and there are no complaints from me because the best side won.

“But we’ve got to regroup and get ready for the North Wales game now. We’ve just had the disappointment of watching Oldham win the trophy and get promoted, so we don’t want to experience that feeling again.”

Oldham led when influential hooker Gareth Owen combined with Lewis Palfrey to send Jon Ford over the line before Keighley replied when Matty Bailey was on hand to ground the loose ball.

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Danny Lawton converted to level the scores but Oldham scored again when Adam Neal took Kenny Hughes’s pass to score. Palfrey converted to make it 12-6 and a third try arrived in the 39th minute when second-rower Danny Langtree bustled over the line.

Palfrey’s third conversion made it 18-6 at the break but Keighley hit back through winger Paul White. However, Palfrey’s pass sent centre George Tyson crashing over in the right corner.

Palfrey then booted a drop-goal to put Oldham further in front before Paul Handforth hit back again for Keighley.

Lawton converted to make it 23-16 but a penalty from Palfrey – after Cougars were penalised for a high shot – stretched the lead.

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They scored again late on when Adam Clay touched down and that meant Andy Gabriel’s try was mere consolation.

Oldham Roughyeds: Lepori, Clay, Tyson, Ford, Holmes, Palfrey, Roper, Ashton, Owen, P. Joy, Crowley, Langtree, Hope. Substitutes: Thompson, Files, Hughes, M. Ward.

Keighley Cougars: Guzdek, Gabriel, Lawton, R. Sheriffe, White, Mitchell, Handforth, Law, D. March, Dickinson, Pursglove, Rawlins, Lindsay. Substitutes: P. March, Bailey, Lynam, Tahraoui.

Referee: Mike Woodhead (RFL).

Related topics:Oldham