Keighley Cougars out of promotion race after Hunslet shock

It means the Parksiders will travel to Swinton this coming Sunday, with the winner of that encounter taking their place in the Championship next season.

Cougars were fighting Oldham for the title for the majority of the season but had to settle for second place after an inconsistent final couple of months.

They were still hot favourites to win the League 1 play-offs and battle it out with 12th-placed Championship side Swinton for a spot in the second tier though, and a 26-22 win over Rochdale a fortnight ago propelled them into yesterday’s final.

Conversely, Hunslet lost to the Hornets in their play-off opener, and had to beat Midlands Hurricanes and then Rochdale again to set up this West Yorkshire derby at Cougar Park.

Keighley began yesterday’s game well in the opening 15 minutes, but were unable to find the breakthrough.

Instead, Hunslet took the lead through an Ethan Wood try, with former Cougar Matty Beharrell adding the extras.

Interim head coach Jake Webster made early changes, bringing on experienced trio Mark Ioane, George Flanagan Sr and Brad England inside the opening 25 minutes in a bid to turn the tide.

But that made little difference, as Mackenzie Turner’s try in the corner just after the half-hour mark increased Hunslet’s advantage to double figures.

And when Flanagan Sr was sin binned for a late shot two minutes before the break, Beharrell slotted over the penalty to put his side 12-0 up.

Cougars thought they were back in the game seconds before half-time, only for veteran centre Adam Ryder to knock on in his attempt to get the ball over the line.

With three penalties conceded for tip tackles in that opening 40, Cougars had to sort their discipline out, and they were much better in the first 25 minutes of the second half.

Keighley survived their spell without Flanagan Sr after the break, and the experienced hooker was the man who got them back into the game on 58 minutes.

He darted over the line from dummy half, with Jack Miller adding the conversion to leave Cougars just 12-6 behind.

George Flanagan Sr and his teammates celebrate his try, but their joy was short-lived. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

Ryder thought he had given Keighley a chance to level soon after, but his try was ruled out by referee Cameron Worsley for a double movement,

Instead, Keighley gave away another costly penalty, which Beharrell landed to give his side a two-score advantage with 15 minutes to go.

And Cougars never recovered, with Jack Render’s acrobatic finish in the corner putting Hunslet 18-6 in front.

Another stupid late shot allowed Beharrell to add a further two points, and Cougars’ miserable afternoon was complete when Lewis Hatton was sent off on his return from injury.