Cougars 26, Hunslet 28

CHARLIE Martin scored a hat-trick but Cougars were edged out after throwing away victory late on against League One promotion rivals Hunslet at a chilly Cougar Park.

The versatile centre, who had a stint with the Hawks last term before joining Keighley in the off-season, touched down in the first half and twice more after the break in his side’s fourth pre-season friendly.

Yet Hunslet, now under the guidance of former Cougars winger Matt Bramald after ex-Keighley boss Barry Eaton left by mutual consent, matched their hosts in scoring five tries but crucially they kicked four conversions as opposed to Keighley’s three.

Cougars should have seen the game out after establishing a 26-16 lead with 14 minutes remaining but former Bradford junior George Flanagan soon grabbed his second and Ben Crane’s try levelled the scores with five minutes remaining.

Simon Brown kicked his fourth goal from five attempts to steal the win for Hunslet and the visitors kept Cougars at bay during a tense finale.

There was at least a welcome return to action for Cougars new-boy Darren Hawkyard, who came off the bench in the first half to make his first appearance for the club after end-of-season surgery on a pectoral muscle.

Hunslet began to fashion a spell of sustained pressure and Flanagan was held up over the line before Thomas weaved his way over from close range courtesy of some fine footwork.

The half-back then grabbed his second when he collected Matt Carbutt’s pass to saunter over the line but Cougars responded straight from the restart when Martin touched down after Hunslet allowed Adam Brook’s kick off to bounce.

After Ritchie Hawkyard and former Keighley player Jake Normington were sinbinned for fighting, Cougars were level before the break when good work from Paul Handforth and Brook led to club captain James Feather plunging over from close range.

Hunslet struck again shortly after the restart when Flanagan scored from close range for his first but Martin then grabbed his second from Handforth’s smart pass.

Martin then completed his treble from Handforth’s clever grubber kick before Andy Gabriel touched down from Handforth’s perfectly-timed kick through.

At 26-16 up, Cougars appeared certain to emerge victorious but with eight minutes remaining Flanagan burrowed over the line for his second and then replacement Crane went over inside the right channel amid suspicions of a forward pass in the build-up.

That levelled matters at 26-26 before Brown booted the conversion to seal the win for Hunslet.