Rochdale 32, Keighley Cougars 40 Full back James Haythornthwaite scored a hat-trick to help Cougars edge past Rochdale in a topsy-turvy clash at Spotland.

The two sides combined to score 13 tries as defence took a back seat to all-out attack.

But, despite an uncharacteristic off-day without the ball, Keighley were always in command and claimed their fifth win in six Championship One games to maintain pressure on leaders Swinton.

James Hutchinson opened the scoring when he claimed Luke Helliwell’s excellent crossfield kick to touch down in the corner.

The second try followed just three minutes later, Haythornthwaite opening his account off a quality, angled pass from player-coach Jason Demetriou to make it 10-0 after ten minutes.

But Hornets responded in style, Dale Bloomfield scoring an 80-metre interception try and Martin Keavney finishing a flowing move sparked by Steven Roper’s chip to level the scores.

Demetriou restored the Cougars’ lead with a powerful run to the line on the stroke of half-time and Haythornthwaite scored four minutes after the break, handing off Andy Saywell to finish from 60 metres.

The full back sealed his hat-trick with a well-angled run through the defence following Hutchinson’s break down the left but Dave Newton provided a swift response from Rochdale.

Andy Shickell scored at the end of a stunning sequence of play started by a Demetriou offload and continued through purposeful bursts from both Helliwell and Ryan Benjafield.

A mistake by Gavin Duffy allowed Paul Crook to close the gap but Olly Pursglove blasted through two tackles to score the killer try with ten minutes remaining.

Bloomfield touched down his second try of the game five minutes from time before a Danny Lawton penalty – part of a 12-point haul with the boot – eased Cougar nerves.

Crook scored with virtually the final play of the game to seal a bonus point for the Hornets.