Hornets stung as leaders Keighley Cougars put on top display

KEIGHLEY Cougars cemented their place at the top of Kingstone Press League 1 with a comprehensive victory over second- placed Rochdale Hornets.

Following the game, Cougars’ player-coach Paul March said: “Rochdale are the best side we have faced with ball in hand but I feel the confidence and momentum is firmly with us at the moment. We did the simple things right, and that’s what won us the game.”

Paul Handforth dove through to score his 100th career try and following the restart, the bounce from his kick caught out Jack Ashworth and allowed Andy Gabriel to score.

Dale Bloomfield squeezed over in the corner for the visitors but any hopes of a comeback were quickly put down as Paul White raced the length of the field for his first with Handforth’s break paving way for a Paul March try.

Brad Hargreaves fought his way into the corner after great work by Danny Yates, but this score was merely a consolation for the Hornets.

Rochdale looked good for another try but Gabriel stripped Lee Paterson of the ball in a one-on-one challenge and raced 40 metres to touch down behind the posts. It was the final score of a pulsating first half which saw Cougars leading 30-8.

After a steady opening 15 minutes to the second period, Rochdale were finally broken down by Josh Lynam. He turned through Anthony Walker’s attempted tackle to get the ball down.

Even though Walker kept the Hornets within three tries after bulldozing through numerous defenders to go over, the hard work was undone when Bradford Bulls loanee Adam Brook threw two dummy passes before weaving his way through to the visitors’ line.

Rochdale were still trying to force the game and a crossfield kick on the last tackle was collected and returned the length of the field by White.

Jesse Sheriffe, returning from an ankle injury that kept him out the previous week, rounded off the Cougars scoring for the afternoon as he finished off a lovely passing move which saw White unselfishly pass up the chance of a personal hat-trick.

The Hornets had the final say when Crook took advantage of the napping Cougars defensive line to race through to touch down.