HUNSLET 32 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 18
ALEXANDER FYNN, South Leeds Stadium, Sunday

AIDEN DOOLAN gave an outstanding all-round performance as Hunslet recorded only their third victory at home in 2026 as Keighley lost their fifth consecutive away game.

The opening period was a reasonably even affair although Max Clarke’s afternoon ended abruptly as he was forced to come off after a heavy collision. Kyle Trout confirmed after the match that he had suffered broken ribs. 

The Cougars were first to have a sniff of the of the line after repeat sets, although the Hunslet defence held firm and they did find the first try of the game after a repeat set of six close to the Cougars’ line when Charlie Graham fed Blake Broadbent through to dot down under the sticks.

Hunslet came close to doubling their try advantage shortly after as Mackenzie Turner made a brilliant line break and the next phase was played out to Graham, but the pass from the stand-off sailed into touch.

The hosts continued to dominate the first half, and they got their reward as Ethan O’Hanlon scored their second try of the game after he drove from the 10-metre line and he was able to force his way over the line,

Hunslet extended their lead to 16 points after Doolan skipped around the Keighley defenders from the play-the-ball before scoring in the corner. Graham was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.

Keighley finally got on the scoreboard seven minutes before half-time after Lucas Green broke the defence, kicking a grubber that Mac Walsh was able to chase and dot down, Matty Beharrell landed the first of three successful conversions.

The Cougars then closed the gap to four points after a repeat set close to the line, when Beharrell launched a superb bomb that Izaac Farrell chased and collected, skipping around the Hunslet defenders before diving under the uprights.

But just on the cusp of half-time Hunslet restored their 10-point advantage as Anthony Walker was able to force his way over the line while fending off three defenders and Doolan was able to convert for a ten-point margin.

The second half began with the hosts having the better of possession with the ball, and they got their noses further in front as Jordan Baldwinson scored his first try for Hunslet after a neat pass from Doolan, who also converted.

Soon after the hosts extended their lead to 20 points when Myles Harrop offloaded to Jimmy Watson and in spectacular fashion he dived over to score in the corner, while Doolan missed his only conversion attempt of the match.

The remaining ten minutes were played in the middle of the pitch, although Keighley weren’t quite finished, as Brad Holroyd dotted down for his first try in six games after some quick passing from Beharrell and he was able to feed the winger through to score.  

Just on the brink of full time, Izaac Farrell was shown yellow for not playing the ball, which marked the last contest of the game. 

GAMESTAR: Aiden Doolan’s try, conversions, assists and an 80-minute performance was simply brilliant from the hooker.

GAMEBREAKER: Jimmy Watson’s try with 25 minutes to go proved to be too much for Keighley to find a comeback.

MATCHFACTS

HUNSLET
18 Jimmy Watson
5 Mo Agoro
29 Jayden Hatton
3 Myles Harrop
22 Mackenzie Turner
27 Charlie Graham
13 Eddie Battye
17 Kevin Larroyer
37 Aiden Doolan
– Blake Broadbent
36 Sam Grice
20 Liam Carr
35 Jordan Baldwinson
Subs (all used)
10 Harvey Hallas
14 Cam Berry
26 Ethan O’Hanlon
29 Anthony Walker

Tries: Broadbent (9), O’Hanlon (21), Doolan (29), Walker (40), Baldwinson (50), Watson (54)
Goals: Turner 2/2, Graham 0/1, Doolan 2/3

COUGARS
1 Connor Sayner
18 Oliver Whitford
41 Mac Walsh
4 Max Clarke
2 Brad Holroyd
6 Izaac Farrell
7 Matty Beharrell
10 Jack Teanby
14 George Flanagan
40 Brad Clavering
42 Josh Jordan-Roberts
21 Alfie Dean
11 Lucas Green
Subs (all used)
8 Dan Parker
9 Oli Burton
17 Jordan Schofield
33 Emmanuel Waine

Tries: Green (33), Farrell (37), Holroyd (65)
Goals: Beharrell 3/3
Sin bin: Farrell (80) – not playing the ball

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 16-0, 16-6, 16-12, 22-12; 28-12, 32-12, 32-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hunslet: Aiden Doolan; Cougars: Matty Beharrell

Penalty count: 9-12
Half-time: 22-12
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte