Keighley Cougars survive red card to win fiery Hunslet game

They fell behind twice early on against the Parksiders, then had Ben Blackmore sent off after just 28 minutes while the scores were level at 10-10.

But Cougars, who had lost at home earlier in the season to Hunslet, a decisive defeat that played a part in them missing out on automatic promotion, dug deep with 12 men to win impressively.

Mackenzie Turner put the away side in front early on, before Ellis Robson capitalised on an error to level things up.

Blackmore then defended well to keep Hunslet out, but they soon came back and hit the front again through Jack Render’s try, which was converted by Matty Beharrell.

But Adam Ryder went over for Keighley midway through the first half, with Jack Miller’s conversion making the score 10-10.

Adam Ryder (left) celebrates the first-half converted try that brought Cougars back level. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

Blackmore was dismissed on 28 minutes for a high shot, with George Flanagan Jr sin-binned for the opposition in the aftermath.

Dad George Flanagan Sr, starting at hooker for Cougars, soon followed his son off the pitch as part of a double interchange for the hosts.

One of the men who came on was Mark Ioane, who scored on the stroke of half-time to back up Billy Walkley’s try on 37 minutes.

Miller converted both efforts to give the hosts a 22-10 lead at the break.

Brandon Pickersgill was forced off injured for Keighley just after the interval, while some excellent defending was needed to keep Hunslet out on a few occasions leading up the hour mark.

The only score in the second half, until 10 minutes to go, was a penalty from Miller, but Cougars must have been sweating when Oscar Thomas was sent to the sin-bin, leaving them with 11 men.

Despite the two-man disadvantage, Walkley scored in the corner to seemingly put Keighley out of sight.

But Hunslet had some fight left in them, and Flanagan Jr and Jude Ferreira both managed converted tries, with Cougars suddenly only six points in front with five minutes to go.

And it was Flanagan Sr who saved them, forcing an error with some brilliant defending on 77 minutes, as the visitors hunted a leveller.

Despite this lighter moment between the two George Flanagans, it wasn't all fun and games for father and son, who both played a vital role for their respective sides yesterday. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

That seemed to inspire Cougars, as Thomas and Robson ran in late tries, both converted by Miller.

That gave the final scoreline a slightly misleading look after what was a brilliantly competitive affair.