Rochdale Ravens 0 Albion Cats 64 - The Cats eased their way into the Challenge Cup semi finals for the third successive year after crushing a weak Rochdale side.
On a bitterly cold day Keighley initially struggled to find any rhythm against a side that seemed more intent on spoiling than playing. However after several forays into the Rochdale half skipper Keira Burns finally got the scoreboard ticking over when she dummied over from acting half.
Laura Ackroyd added the first of her eight conversions. Leanne Ludlam soon added a second try and almost immediately Jodie Billing was in for a third.
Rochdale were still battling but were being outclassed and it seemed the Cats could score at will. The half ended with Jodee Loader helping herself to a brace, Sarah Gatenby adding another and Saima Hussein racing through for a typical score.
The second half was more of the same with further tries coming from Hussein, Gemma Liddon, Sharon Wilmot, another from Burns, and Loader completing a fine hat-trickwhen she fielded a kick behind her own line and raced the full length of the field for a sensational score.
With the Rochdale team utterly dejected and point's difference not being an issue the referee sensibly brought an early end to proceedings.
Laura Ackroyd took the player of the match award, just shading it from Loader, Ludlam and Sarah Walsh who was the pick of the forwards.
Despite the victory the Cats know they will have to step up a gear this weekend when they visit champions Bradford for their first league meeting of the season.
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