The Hunslet Hawks suffered their third league defeat, losing 16-24 to Keighley Cougars at South Leeds Stadium this afternoon (25 March 2016).
Hunslet let Keighley go out to a 24 point lead before they clawed their way back into the game, but they left the fightback too late. Despite great wins against Barrow and Doncaster in the Challenge Cup, the Hawks have lost all three of their games in the Kingstone’s Press Championship 1 and languish at the bottom of the table.
Keighley broke the deadlock after 16 minutes when they forced an error, Paul Handforth offloaded to Hamish Barnes who went over for the try. Adam Brook kicked the extras giving the Cougars a 6 point lead.
The Cougars doubled their lead on 30 minutes when Charlie Martin scored and Brook again converted. Keighley took a 0-12 lead in at half time.
Four minutes into the second half Jimmy Watson dropped a kick from Handforth, Charlie Martin capitalised scoring his second in the corner. Brook’s kick was good for the conversion extending the Cougars lead to 18 points.
On 51 minutes Keighley extended their lead further when Hamish Barnes went over for his second try of the match. Brook again kicked the extras.
Hunslet finally got on the score sheet on 58 minutes. Ayden Faal went over for the try after Thomas collected his own grubber kick, but Brown was unable to convert.
Matt Carbutt stretched to get the ball over the line again on 65 minutes. Simon Brown’s conversion took the score to 10-24 and Hunslet were back in the game.
Six minutes Jack Lee scored another try and Brown’s extras brought Hunslet within 8 points of Keighley with nine minutes to go.
Unfortunately the Hawks couldn’t score again. The tension got to Aaron Ollett and Jake Normanton were both sin binned with four minutes to go for fighting.
Full time score: Hunslet Hawks 16-24 Keighley Cougars
Teams:
Hunslet Hawks: Watson, Duckworth, Faal, Mvududu, Barnett, Brown, Thomas, Carbutt, Lee, Reed, Waterman, Normington, Williams. Subs: Flanagan, Buttery, Bell, Johnson.
Keighley Cougars: R Hawkyard, Finigan, Martin, Barnes, White, Brook, Handforth, Law, Feather, Cherryholme, Oakes, Rawlins, Lindsay. Subs: Bailey, Ollett, D Hawkyard, Peltier.
Attendance: 707
