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Doncaster RL 26-24 Keighley Cougars Match Report by Joshua Chapman (@JRCSport)

KEIGHLEY Cougars’ League One play-off ambitions appear to be all but over after they snatched a 26-24 defeat from the jaws of victory at Doncaster.

Leading by 12 points with 15 minutes left to play, two quick tries and a late Tom Carr penalty condemned the visitors to defeat and seemingly another season in the third tier.

However, Head Coach Paul March has belief in his squad to still give there all until it’s mathematically not possible for the side to make the top five.

March said: “We looked comfortable and I thought we controlled the game and we spoke at half-time about continuing what we did in the first half throughout the second.

“But, we lost the penalty count 9-2 in the second half and that killed us and some of them penalties were justified and some weren’t but when you’re defending nine extra sets and it took away from our energy levels.

“There was massive effort from the lads but we’ve come away with effort but no points again and York losing to Hunslet is a saving grace for us.

“We need four points from our remaining two games now and until it’s mathematically impossible for us to not make the five, I’ve got belief in my team to go out and do the job they need too.”

The Dons opened the scoring after five minutes when, after Scott Law was penalised for a high tackle, Brad Nicholson bounced off a tackle to fall over the line.

But the Cougars drew back level with their hosts when Adam Brook broke clear and from the resulting play the ball, they worked the ball across to Charlie Martin who squeezed his way in to score.

March’s side took the lead on the quarter mark when, on the back of a forward pass, Danny Lawton drew Louis Sheriff off his wing to give Andy Gabriel a stroll over in the corner.

Keighley enjoyed long spells with ball in hand and they increased their lead by a further two when the home side were penalised for offside and Lawton slotted home.

Doncaster drew level in the 27th minute when, after a penalty for a ball steal, Jordan Howden kicked to the left hand corner where Louis Sheriff was on hand to score an easy try under no pressure.

And it was the away side that had the lead heading into the half-time interval as with four minutes remaining, Ritchie Hawkyard switched direction and dived over from close range.

After a slow start to the second half, the Cougars sparked the game back into life.

From a Brook kick, the bounce came up to Martin who knocked the ball down into the hands of Ash Lindsay to draw in a defender and create the space for the offload to Aaron Ollett, who in turn crossed for the four pointer.

Keighley were then awarded a penalty in front of the uprights from forty metres and opted to take the two, however, Danny Lawton dragged the effort just wide and the momentum swung.

The Dons got within a converted try once more two minutes later as Mark Castle ran over his attempted tackler to cross.

And clearly buoyed by Castle’s try, Gary Thornton’s side drew level with ten minutes left on the clock when Jordie Hedges sold the Cougars defence short with a ‘show and go’ to get over the line.

Then in the 76th minute, Josh Lynam was penalised for a high tackle and from the resulting penalty, Tom Carr converted to secure victory for Doncaster.



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