NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 6 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 90
COLIN ARCHER, Stadiwm Eirias, Sunday

AFTER last week’s heartbreaking defeat to Batley, Keighley returned to winning ways as they brought a lengthy losing sequence to an end with a commanding victory over North Wales.

The Cougars started with confidence, with tries from Alfie Dean and Mac Walsh during the opening five minutes putting them on the front foot. 

North Wales responded when Ben Fisher produced a superb and rare 20/40 kick to give the home side their first attacking opportunity of the afternoon, but the Crusaders were unable to turn the field position into points. 

Keighley then missed an opportunity to score when they lost possession over the line, handing North Wales a reprieve, but that relief proved short-lived. 

One of the afternoon’s standout performers, Connor Sayner, helped create the next score by sending Izaac Farrell through for a score and he in turn found Oliver Whitford to finish the move and register the fourth try. 

North Wales continued to battle and were twice held up over the Keighley line as they searched for a response, but the visitors’ defence held firm. 

The Cougars extended their advantage when the influential Matty Beharrell created space for Brad Holroyd to cross out wide. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but Keighley were soon celebrating again when a short pass sent Dean crashing over for his second try. 

Before the half-time whistle, Lucas Green and Emmanuel Waine both produced powerful runs to score close to the posts, giving the Cougars complete control heading into the interval. 

Any hopes of a Crusaders comeback were quickly dented after the restart as Sayner crossed beside the posts almost immediately. 

North Wales did manage to prevent another certain score when an interception halted a dangerous Keighley attack, but the pressure continued. 

Experienced hooker George Flanagan then darted over from acting halfback for one of his trademark close-range tries and the lively Sayner added another, taking advantage of a beautifully delayed pass from Beharrell. 

David Foggin-Johnston got on the scoresheet and Holroyd scored his second before Josh Jordan-Roberts was next to touch down, crashing over underneath the posts before successfully converting his own try. 

To their credit, North Wales refused to give in and eventually got the reward their effort deserved. Following a spell of sustained pressure, Matty Welham powered his way over from close range for a well-earned Crusaders try.

Welham was undoubtedly one of North Wales’ best performers of the afternoon, having also produced two try-saving interventions earlier in the contest.

Keighley continued pushing until the final whistle, however, and in the closing two minutes Farrell crossed for his second before Sayner completed an outstanding afternoon with another try. 

The result brought the curtain down on the Crusaders’ 2026 home campaign. 

Despite the difficult afternoon on the field, there was an atmosphere around Stadiwm Eirias as the Crusaders opened the gates free of charge for their Community Day.

Around 500 supporters turned out, providing an encouraging reminder of the support that remains for the club as attention now turns towards the final game of the season and the challenge of building towards 2027.

GAMESTAR: In addition to twelve conversions, Matty Beharrell controlled the game with his clever ball-play, creating the openings for several Keighley tries.

GAMEBREAKER: The ease with which Keighley scored their first four tries in the opening 17 minutes made the outcome inevitable.

MATCHFACTS

CRUSADERS
5 Matty Welham
19 Joe Bradley
3 Lewis Fairhurst
4 Marcus Geener
1 Isaac Wheatley
14 Joe Hickey
7 Ben Fisher
17 Connor Terrill
9 Trent Ruddy
10 James Shields
11 Bailey Dawson
2 Sam Littler
12 Ralph Wood
Subs (all used)
18 Matty Bailey
21 Kye Jacobson
25 Harry Coleman
33 Levy Nzoungou

Tries: Welham (75)
Goals: Fisher 1/1

COUGARS
1 Connor Sayner
19 David Foggin-Johnston
18 Oliver Whitford
41 Mac Walsh
2 Brad Holroyd
6 Izaac Farrell
7 Matty Beharrell
40 Brad Clavering
9 Oli Burton
16 Leo Aliyu
21 Alfie Dean
42 Josh Jordan-Roberts
11 Lucas Green
Subs (all used)
8 Dan Parker
14 George Flanagan
25 Nathan Rushworth
33 Emmanuel Waine

Tries: Dean (3, 30), Walsh (5), Farrell (13, 78), Whitford (17), Holroyd (25, 64), Green (35), Waine (38), Sayner (41, 53, 80), Flanagan (48), Foggin-Johnston (61), Jordan-Roberts (69)
Goals: Beharrell 12/15, Jordan-Roberts 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-24, 0-28, 0-34, 0-40, 0-46; 0-52, 0-58, 0-64, 0-68, 0-72, 0-78, 6-78, 6-84, 6-90

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Crusaders: Matty Welham; Cougars: Matty Beharrell

Penalty count: 2-5
Half-time: 0-46
Referee: Liam Breheny
Attendance: 500