KEIGHLEY COUGARS coach Ian Hardman was pleased for players at each end of the age scale, but disappointed their efforts couldn’t clinch a two-point haul at Batley.
The boss was able to play prop Leo Aliyu for the first time since March after the 21-year-old was given the green light following concussion issues.
And hooker George Flanagan, 39, also came off the bench to score one of his side’s three second-half tries as they led by two points, only to suffer late heartbreak as Nyle Flynn’s try and Ben Reynolds’ conversion cemented a 22-18 home win.
It was an eleventh straight defeat in what has been a tough year for Keighley, where former Featherstone assistant Hardman took the reins in February following the eve-of-season departure of Alan Kilshaw.
Leeds Academy product Aliyu impressed over twelve appearances for Keighley last year, but managed only five this time around before his enforced lay-off.
“We were all happy to see Leo back out there with a smile on his face,” said Hardman. “We have obviously had to do what’s right for him, but he’s been frustrated, because he just loves playing rugby.
“Leo has put his time out to good use by making himself really fit and strong, and you could see that. He looked a handful.”
Flanagan was facing the club where he began his senior career back in 2009 after coming through the Bradford development system.
And Hardman added: “He gave us some extra spark and got a trademark try.
“We got a couple of others through good shape, and I thought our overall game in the second half was good.
“We needed to show some resilience after the week before (a 32-18 loss at Hunslet) and it was just a shame we couldn’t see it out.”