James Saltonstall scores four as Halifax Panthers rout Keighley Cougars

KEIGHLEY COUGARS 12 HALIFAX PANTHERS 56
MATTHEW WARD, Cougar Park, Sunday 

FOUR tries from James Saltonstall helped Halifax beat their neighbours in emphatic style.

In Kyle Eastmond’s first match as coach, his charges crossed ten times in total, displaying their higher league status in making it a difficult afternoon for Keighley.

The Panthers wasted no time and pounced for a try from their first attack of the match. Charlie Graham was slipped through a gap by Louis Jouffret and the former Cougars man found the run of Saltonstall. Jouffret converted.

Halifax continued their fast start and added to their lead on 14 minutes. From a Keighley error, Graham collected the loose ball and fed Jouffret, who found a gap and drove to the line, tagging on the goal.

The points procession continued as new skipper and former Keighley man Ben Crooks latched onto a well-timed pass and crashed over to make it three tries in 17 minutes, although Jouffret was off target from the tee.

Keighley were trying to claw their way back in, but couldn’t halt Halifax, who increased their score when James Woodburn-Hall had time and room to pick out Saltonstall again, and he went over unopposed, with Jouffret improving.

The home team’s task got harder still when halfback Izaac Farrell was sinbinned on 25 minutes for a professional foul.

Keighley conceded again as Graham headed directly for the line and charged his way over for Jouffret to goal.

Keighley at last responded when Brad Holroyd dashed in from dummy-half on 34 minutes and Jack Miller added the two.

Early in the second half, Saltonstall completed his hat-trick with Graham again the provider. Jouffret’s kick made it 34-6.

Halifax hit 40 when a lovely ball over the top, avoiding every defender in a red and green shirt, was collected superbly by Ben Tibbs, who raced over. Jack Hansen took over from the tee, and nailed the first of three conversions from four attempts.

Tibbs nearly had a second when his side tried the same routine, but Owen Restall was penalised for obstruction.

Saltonstall was enjoying his afternoon and grabbed his fourth try of the game after 67 minutes. Restall set him up, but it was too wide out for Hansen.

Halifax struck for two further scores, both converted, with Adam O’Brien collecting a loose pass, beating three defenders and spinning his way to the line before Zac McComb benefitted from a quick play-the-ball.

George Flanagan grabbed a late consolation try for Keighley, faking a pass and twisting his way over. Miller goaled.

GAMESTAR: Four-try Halifax winger James Saltonstall was a points source.

GAMEBREAKER: Three tries in the first 17 minutes by the visitors set the tone.

MATCHFACTS
COUGARS

20 Oliver Whitfield
2 Brad Holroyd
3 Adam Ryder
4 Junior Nuu
5 Billy Walkley
6 Izaac Farrell
7 Jack Miller
10 Mark Ioane
9 George Flanagan
28 Bobby Hartley
26 Ryan Hogg
12 Lachlan Lanskey
24 Elliot Cousins
Subs (all used)
18 Ben Dean
16 Jordan Schofield
23 Leo Aliyu
32 Connor Sayner
25 Will McCardle
21 Max Lambourne

Tries: Holroyd (34), Flanagan (80)
Goals: Miller 2/2
Sin bin: Farrell (25) – professional foul

PANTHERS
1 Louis Jouffret
5 Ben Tibbs
3 Charlie Graham
4 Ben Crooks
2 James Saltonstall
6 James Woodburn-Hall
7 Jack Hansen
8 Brandon Douglas
14 Tom Inman
10 Joe Hird
19 Zack McComb
12 Adam Tangata
13 Jacob Fairbank
Subs (all used)
9 Adam O’Brien
18 Owen Restall
15 Connor Davies
17 Will Calcott

Tries: Saltonstall (3, 22, 45, 67), Jouffret (14), Crooks (17), Graham (26), Tibbs (51), O’Brien (71), McComb (73)
Goals: Jouffret 5/6, Hansen 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-16, 0-22, 0-28, 6-28; 6-34, 6-40, 6-44, 6-50, 6-56, 12-56

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Cougars: Jack Miller; Panthers: James Saltonstall

Penalty count: 6-4
Half-time: 6-28
Referee: Andy Sweet