Rochdale Hornets 16 Keighley Cougars 40: Four-try Perata takes up centre stage to deliver away win for Keighley

The Kiwi centre took full advantage of a suspect home defence, using his pace and power to full effect with a series of clinical finishes.

His tally was the highlight of an otherwise scrappy game in which 22 penalties were awarded, making for a stop-start afternoon’s play.

Keighley were quickly out of the blocks, a neat catch and offload by James Haythornthwaite setting up the opening try for Perata.

The battling hosts hit back when Steve McDermott’s break created space on the outside for Danny Pyke to score. Paul Crook converted.

In the 27th minute, James Feather sneaked over from close range for a Jones-converted try and two tries just before the break from Obst and Jy-Mel Coleman, both converted by Jones, gave Keighley a 22-6 interval lead.

Three minutes into the second half, Perata again exposed Hornets’ weak underbelly, outstripping the cover to score a try.

And, when Hornets were reduced to 12 men, a try from Danny Lawton and two more from Perata, the second converted by Jones, ensured the hosts were punished for their indiscipline.

In the interim Pyke scored his second for the home team.

Hornets ran in a late try, Adam Bowman charging onto Chris Hough’s inside ball to score near the posts, Hough adding the extras.

Rochdale: English, O’Connor, Donoghue, Pyke, Johnson, Crook, Roper, Newton, McDermott, Cookson, Baines, Hobson, Middlehurst. Substitutes: Wood, Hough, Bowman, Bannister.

Keighley: Moss, Haythornthwaite, Parata, Lawton, Tadulala, D. Jones, Obst, Shickell, Feather, Sheriffe, Pursglove, R. Jones, Shepherd. Substitutes: Wray, Coleman, Korkidas, Cherryholme.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).