KEIGHLEY COUGARS 22 SHEFFIELD EAGLES 26
MICHAEL GLEDHILL, Cougar Park, Saturday

SHEFFIELD made a winning start to the new rugby league season as they defeated Keighley in an entertaining first pre-season outing.

With the Cougars and Eagles not drawn to face each other in the newly-merged Championship, respective head coaches Alan Kilshaw and Craig Lingard were more than happy to schedule this warm-up to help with their preparations.

Sheffield wasted no time in taking the lead as Joe Brown, one of nine players making his first Eagles appearance, scored out wide from a scrum set play 15 metres out after Keighley were forced into an early error.

Jordan Lilley was unable to add the difficult conversion but after a Jack Bussey and Connor Bower break from the restart, the halfback’s perfectly-timed kick on the next play split the Keighley defence in sensational style to see Kai Morgan beat David Foggin-Johnston to the ball in the in-goal area to score his first try for his new club.

This time Lilley landed the conversion to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead after eight minutes.

At this stage of the game, many would have thought that Sheffield would continue to kick on. However, Keighley had other ideas as they hit back with back-to-back scores themselves to the delight of the home crowd.

First, from a scrum close to the Sheffield line, Izaac Farrell’s cut-out pass sent Connor Sayner in at the corner and Farrell’s conversion narrowed the gap to four points.

Then after a mistake at the back from Jayden Billy had given Keighley a repeat set, Matty Beharrell’s early kick behind the Eagles’ defensive line saw Foggin-Johnson show a great turn of pace to score before the dead-ball line in the corner. Farrell pushed his conversion wide against the strong wind.

With the clock counting down to half-time, the Eagles were next to strike. New signing Kieran Gill scored from a lovely flowing move which saw Lilley and Bower link to send the centre over, and Lilley added the extra two points for a 16-10 half-time lead.

After the interval, the visitors worked hard in defence to weather some early Keighley attacks before Billy Walkley became the first try-scorer of the second half after 14 minutes. The winger and former Keighley player sped his way over after Sheffield moved the ball wide, although Lilley just pushed the touchline conversion attempt wide.

The last quarter started to see the points flow with Brad Holroyd reacting quickest to an error from Harley Saunders, one of two Sheffield trialists alongside Jamie Cooke. The Keighley man scooped up the loose ball and Farrell converted from the side of the posts to narrow the deficit to just four points.

The late flurry of scores continued with Sheffield next on the board, Conor Fitzsimmons powering his way over from close range following a Corey Johnson break. Lilley’s third conversion of the day restored the Eagles’ ten-point lead at 26-16.

In the closing moments George Flanagan, who had harassed his opponents all afternoon, scored out of dummy-half under the Sheffield posts to give the hosts a glimmer of hope. Flanagan also took the successful conversion, with Farrell forced to leave the field by an ankle injury.

There was time for late drama after Flanagan’s try when Oli Burton was caught high after the restart near the halfway line. The full-time hooter sounded as referee Kevin Moore tried to separate the players who had come together.

With the penalty already awarded, there was one last chance for Keighley. Brandon Pickersgill went for the Hail Mary cross-field kick into the in-goal area, which Saunders forced dead to end an entertaining pre-season encounter.

GAMESTAR: There were strong performances across the park for both sides with Jordan Lilley a stand-out for his influence in Sheffield’s attacking options in his two try assists.

GAMEBREAKER: The early back-to-back scores from Joe Brown and Kai Morgan put Sheffield in good stead despite a spirited fightback from Keighley.

MATCHFACTS

COUGARS
1 Connor Sayner
5 Brad Holroyd
3 Junior Nuu
4 Max Clarke
19 David Foggin-Johnston
6 Izaac Farrell
7 Matty Beharrell
10 Jack Teanby
9 Oli Burton
16 Leo Aliyu
11 Alfie Dean
12 Lachlan Lanskey
15 Mark Ioane
Subs (all used)
14 George Flanagan
13 Aaron Brown
8 Dan Parker
17 Jordan Schofield
20 Leo Skerrett-Evans
22 Waldimar Matahwa
23 Brandon Pickersgill
2 Dylan Proud
21 Will McCardle
18 Oliver Whitford
24 Eoin Bowie

Tries: Sayner (12), Foggin-Johnston (17), Holroyd (65), Flanagan (78)
Goals: Farrell 2/3, Flanagan 1/1

EAGLES
2 Joe Brown
25 Jayden Billy
4 Kieran Gill
3 Josh Hodson
5 Billy Walkley
6 Kai Morgan
7 Jordan Lilley
8 Conor Fitzsimmons
9 Corey Johnson
10 Martyn Reilly
11 Connor Bower
12 Joel Farrell
13 Jack Bussey
Subs (all used)
14 Reiss Butterworth
15 George Griffin
16 Blake Broadbent
17 Harry Bowes
18 Lennie Ellis
20 Lewis Peachey
22 Masi Matongo
– Jamie Cooke
– Harley Saunders

Tries: Brown (4), Morgan (8), Gill (36), Walkley (52), Fitzsimmons (70)
Goals: Lilley 3/5

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-10, 6-10, 10-10, 10-16; 10-20, 16-20, 16-26, 22-26

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cougars: George Flanagan; Eagles: Jordan Lilley

Penalty count: 6-8
Half-time: 10-16
Referee: Kevin Moore