Keighley Cougars unable to stop Oldham winning title

The division’s two best sides faced off yesterday in BD21, with the visitors knowing that victory would seal top spot and with it, the only automatic promotion place.

The Roughyeds started superbly, and after brilliant defence from home winger Billy Walkley kept them out initially, they soon hit Keighley with a double burst.

Former Cougars winger Mo Agoro came back to haunt his old club, scoring twice in the opening 17 minutes to put Oldham 8-0 in front.

It soon got worse for Keighley, as another one of their former players, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, crossed for a third Roughyeds try.

That was converted by Kieran Dixon, giving the visitors a 14-0 lead just past the midway point of the first half.

But Cougars finally gained a foothold in the game by forcing a couple of goal-line dropouts, and they got their rewards for that pressure on 33 minutes.

Brandon Pickersgill managed to get through a gap in the Oldham defence to score, with Jack Miller converting to reduce the deficit to single figures at half-time.

Brandon Pickersgill stretches out to score Keighley's opening try. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

Keighley failed to make the most of a set right in front of the opposition posts just moments after the break, but otherwise it was a cagey start to the second half, with both sides knowing the importance of the next score.

Cougars suffered a huge blow on 56 minutes when skipper Ellis Robson was sent to the sin-bin for a late hit.

He has since penalised by the RFL, having been charged with Grade B Dangerous Contact over the incident, but has only received a £40 fine, and will not miss any games through suspension.

A man down with Robson off the field on Sunday, the hosts were unable to stop George Hirst from scoring, and Dixon added the extras to put Oldham 20-6 in front.

Just as Robson returned to the fray, the away side had Owen Farnworth yellow carded, giving Keighley the chance to go for a late push against 12 men.

The game was then briefly stopped for a medical emergency in the crowd, with play stopped for around 10 minutes while that was sorted.

Upon the resumption, Keighley made the most of their man advantage, Robson crossing the whitewash and Miller converting.

But at eight points down with seven minutes to go, and Farnworth returning to the action before the game was over, Cougars had left themselves with too much to do.

Oldham closed the game out well, and the hooter allowed them to finally celebrate, as they secured a return to the Championship after three seasons in League 1.

Cougars are guaranteed to finish second, meaning they will begin their play-off campaign at the semi-final stage on the weekend of September 21/22.