Keighley Cougars 26, Rochdale Hornets 14: The Cougars made it four consecutive wins but struggled to overcome a Rochdale side whose most obvious tactic was their physical game.

Cougars coach Karl Harrison was not happy about the standard of the officials in the game, but refused to comment publicly. But he did say he would speak to RFL referees co-ordinator Greg McCallum.

But the Cougars continue to climb the table and Harrison said: "I'm happy we've got two points. We played well in the first half and ground it out in the second half.

"We weren't allowed to play football today. It was a scrappy game and the scoreline flattered them.

"But our team spirit is great and we're looking forward to going to Widnes next week."

Rochdale's persistent strong-arm tactics consistently went unpunished and it was ironic that their prop Danny Sculthorpe should be dismissed for dissent 30 seconds from time.

The game gradually deteriorated, certainly affected by the weather, and two tries in the last ten minutes to Rochdale made the scoreline closer than the reality of the game.

It was Hornets who got the first try when their star player Dane Dorahy, son of former Wigan coach John Dorahy, put up a high kick. Jason Lee lost the ball and Darren Robinson dived over to score.

After that it was all Cougars. Despite tough conditions they played some expansive, attractive rugby with Martin Wood the inspiration. He created all three tries before the break.

The Cougars' first try came after 15 minutes when a lovely side-step by Wood on his own 40-metre line took him through the Rochdale defence. He drew full-back Lee Maher before sending Richard Smith away to touch down, leaving Wood a simple conversion.

Then a short pass from Wood put Nathan Antonik through and again Wood converted.

The try of the game and possibly of the season came five minutes before the break.

Wood put Ian Hughes through on halfway, then the Keighley support kicked in. Pickles and Danny Seal linked superbly to send Antonik over for his second try. Wood added the conversion and a penalty to make it 20-4 at the break.

The second half was scrappy. Again the Cougars dominated the early stages, but had little to show for their efforts.

The match-winning try came in the 58th minute and it was a fine solo effort from Paul Owen. His darting run across the face of the posts saw him side-step three tacklers before touching down behind the posts. Wood's conversion completed the Cougars' scoring.

Keighley struggled then to break free of the Rochdale shackles and Hornets hit back with two late tries. The first went to Danny Wood who also landed the conversion. Then in the dying seconds winger Steve Wilde got in at the corner.

Keighley Cougars: Owen; Horne, K Smith, R Smith, Lee; Pickles, Antonik; Hall, Seal, Boothroyd, Harrison, Hughes, Wood. Subs (all used): Tomlinson, Walker, Stephenson, Thompson.

Rochdale Hornets: Maher; Miller, Martin, Wood, Wilde; Demetriou, Dorahy; D Sculthorpe, Robinson, Ireland, McKinney, Price-Jones, Cooper. Subs (all used): Swinson, Martindale, L Sculthorpe, Bunce.

Attendance: 1,450.

Keith Reeves

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