Keighley Cougars 28, Bradford Bulls 12 Almost a year ago to the day, a rookie Bulls outfit were stuffed 46-12 in a local pre-season friendly at Cougar Park.

Last night, against a full-strength Cougars team, a repeat of that scoreline rarely looked likely.

Stu Barrow’s under-20s, bolstered by a sprinkling of first-team players in Kyle Briggs, Shaun Ainscough and Danny Addy, left Keighley with their heads held high and with a few reputations enhanced.

Callum Windley produced some delightful touches at scrum half before being forced off with a calf injury, hooker Connor Spencer play-ed with a maturity that belied his tender years and prop Liam McAvoy rarely took a backward step.

Barrow’s young guns showed impressive spirit to overturn Keighley’s early 10-0 lead and assume a 12-10 advantage at the break.

Jason Demetriou’s star-studded side, featuring former Super League names such as former Odsal favourite Semi Tadulala, Richie Barnett, Sam Obst and Michael Korkidas, were rewarded for their early dominance with tries from Tadulala and Danny Lawton.

Yet the Bulls fashioned a hugely encouraging response.

They hit back through prop Johnny Payne and led at the break when Briggs scored and then converted a fine individual try.

Cougars’ class and experience told after the restart when Barnett scored twice in the left corner before Gavin Duffy and new signing Matt Parata took their try tally to six, although Bradford were in no way disgraced.

Hooker James Feather was at the heart of Keighley’s best moves and his rapier-like offload allowed the advancing Tadulala to crash over the line from close range in the left corner with four minutes played.

Danny Jones added the extras but the Bulls gradually steadied themselves against opponents with far greater experience. Windley began to show some deft handling and Spencer came to the fore in the ruck area.

Yet the hosts looked formidable at times when they moved through the gears as Jones and Obst got them motoring forward at pace with some slick handling.

In the 16th minute, one such foray from the Cougars saw the ball moved out wide to the right channel where a neat pass from Jones sent Lawton crashing over.

Jones could not convert from a difficult angle but the threat from the Cougars was impossible to defuse at times.

The creative triumvirate of Feather, Obst and Jones afforded the hosts a plethora of options against a Bradford side who nevertheless kept battling away gamely.

Centre Rob Hawthorne intercepted a home attack on his own 20-metre line and embarked on a strong run before his progress was halted.

Feather was replaced midway through the opening period by Jamaine Wray as both sides began to make changes.

The Bulls, having struggled to fashion any meaningful opportunities, then scored out of nowhere in the 24th minute when Payne crashed over from close range after collecting a high bomb from Briggs, who added the extras.

Briggs had generally struggled to impose himself on proceedings until he created a try for himself out of the blue in the 36th minute.

He attempted to chip a kick behind the Cougars defence but fortuitously saw the ball rebound off a home defender, allowing him to collect possession and saunter over the line.

He added the extras and the Bulls, having trailed 10-0 midway through the half, ended it 12-10 ahead.

The introduction of Jy-mel Coleman gave Cougars renewed impetus and he was instrumental as they edged back ahead 11 minutes after the break.

A slick passing sequence saw the ball pass through several pairs of hands and culminated in Coleman and Tadulala combining to send the previously anonymous Barnett over in the left corner.

Coleman added the extras and five minutes later an exquisite long pass from Feather allowed Barnett another simple try in the same spot.

Cougars had their fifth try in the 61st minute when Duffy touched down in the right corner and, with four minutes remaining, Parata scored in the same spot.

Cougars: Haythornthwaite 6, Duffy 6, Lawton 6, Tadulala 7, Barnett 6, D Jones 7, Obst 8, Korkidas 6, Feather 8, Cherryholme 6, Pursglove 6, R Jones 6, March 6. Replacements: Wray, Shickell, Rawlins, Reed, Coleman, Moss, Parata, Shepherd.

Bulls: Williamson 6, Ainscough 6, Dawson 6, Hawthorne 6, Rossi 6, Briggs 6, Windley 7, McAvoy 7, Spencer 8, Payne 7, Bailey 6, Murphy 6, Addy 7. Replacements: Nelmes, Wood, Elliot, Aitchison, Cockerham, Lyons, Feltham-Stout, Boltwood, Courney.

Attendance: 970