Hunslet Hawks won their final pre-season friendly against Keighley Cougars in a match that swung back and forth.
The Hawks travelled to Cougar Park to meet Keighley in their final pre-season friendly match before the Kingstone Championship 1 kicks off next week. Following losses to bigger teams: Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Rovers and Batley Bulldogs; the Hawks got a win against a team they will meet in the regular season.
Danny Thomas opened the scoring for Hunslet going over on 14 minutes, Simon Brown kicked the extras.
Thomas scored again seven minutes later from a Garbutt pass. Again Brown kicked the conversion taking the Hawks out to a 0-12 lead.
Keighley replied immediately from the kick off. Brown let the ball bounce and Charlie Martin took the ball over for a try. Adam Brook converting taking the score to 6-12.
On 31 minutes Ritchie Hawkyard and Jake Normington were sin binned for 10 minutes for striking.
With two minutes to the half, the Cougars brought the scores level as James Feather scored and Brook again converted.
Half time score: Keighley Cougars 12-12 Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet took the lead again early in the second half as George Flanagan muscled over the line on 48 minutes, but Simon Brown was unable to convert.
The Cougars responded seven minutes later as Charlie Martin scored his second try. Brook kicked the extras taking Keighley into the lead 18-16.
Keighley extended their lead on 66 minutes when Paul Handforth‘s grubber kick was touched down by Charlie Martin (for his hat trick) and again on three minutes later when Handforth kicked to the corner and Andy Gabriel scored. Neither try was converted, but the Cougars were now ten points ahead at 26-16.
Flanagan struck back for the Hawks on 72 minutes scoring his second try and Brown kicked the conversion. Three minutes later Crane scored to level the game and Brown converted to give Hunslet the lead, which they held to the hooter.
Final score: Keighley Cougars 26-28 Hunslet Hawks
Attendance: 436
Teams:
Hunslet Hawks: Watson, Agoro, Waterman, Mvududu, Barnett, Brown, Thomas, Reed, Flanagan, Carbutt, Williams, Normington, Mackay. Subs: Haley, Duckworth, Bell, Crane, Robinson, Buttery.
Keighley Cougars: R Hawkyard, Gabriel, Martin, R Sheriffe, White, Brook, Handforth, Law, Feather, Rawlins, Lynam, Esslemont, Dickinson. Subs: Lawton, Cherryholme, Ollett, D Hawkyard, Finigan, Peltier, Cullimore.
