KEIGHLEY won a cracking clash in the Betfred Championship yesterday, beating visiting Halifax 29-20 at Cougar Park.
The Panthers sit bottom of the league, but that is only due to them having to reform after liquidation earlier in the year, for which they were handed a 12-point deduction.
That meant both sides went into the weekend’s game with three league wins apiece so far.
But it was Cougars who notched up their fourth, Emmanuel Waine and Alfie Dean both grabbing a brace, while Izaac Farrell’s goalkicking proved vital too.
Keighley sit 10th in the 20-team table so far, looking vastly improved from the side which finished second bottom of League 1 last season.
There was a poignant start to proceedings, with a minute’s applause before the game in memory of Danny Jones.
Yesterday marked the 11th anniversary of the half back’s death, which was as a result of a cardiac arrest shortly after being taken off during Keighley’s away game against London Skolars.
Jones’ final match at Cougar Park had been a week prior, when he landed a last-gasp drop goal to see his side to a 23-22 victory against North Wales Crusaders.
And he certainly would have enjoyed yesterday’s similarly dramatic game, which started 15 minutes late to allow for everyone in attendance to get through the turnstiles.
The match began badly for Cougars when Wakefield loanee Kian McGann put Fax ahead on 14 minutes.
His fellow Trinity team-mate Myles Lawford added the extras to put the visitors 6-0 up, but Farrell drove over the line to score soon after, with his conversion levelling the scores.
Ben Will put Fax back in front after a period of visiting pressure, but Waine hit back just before the break, the prop using his immense power to crash over the whitewash.
With Lawford missing his conversion and Farrell landing his, Keighley held a narrow 12-10 advantage at half-time.
Waine was outstanding all afternoon, while he proved his game is not just about a power, storming away to score a thrilling breakaway try after 50 minutes.
Farrell added the extras, before Dean timed his leap perfectly to go over for another converted try moments later.
He had moved out to the wing after Oli Whitford had taken a couple of heavy blows to the ribs and failed to re-emerge for the second half.
But Dean was thriving in this new role, and he got over again in the corner just past the hour mark.
Fax refused to give up, and off the back of a six-again, Vila Halafihi scored their third try.
Lawford added the extras to make it 28-16, but Farrell nudged things back to a three-score game with his late drop goal.
Will had the final say, his try with two minutes to go reducing the gap to single figures, but there was no time for Fax to seriously threaten a remarkable comeback.
Aaron Brown and Lachlan Lanskey returned from injury for Cougars yesterday, which was a massive help.
Head coach Ian Hardman, speaking to the club’s in-house media team at full-time, said: “They bring us quality on the field, because Lachie’s got a great engine, he’s a great defender and he’s a great tackler.
“Browny is similar, and he adds a lot of class to us on the ball too.
“But it’s also about what they brought to the team during the week and in the changing rooms.
“The leadership they show helps the team and they both did a good job for us today.”
Brandon Pickersgill shone in the halves after Matty Beharrell failed a late fitness test, a rare appearance for the former Bulls man.
The boss said: “Matty was a late withdrawal, so we put Pickers in there at the last minute.
“Pickers has had it tough, because he’s a great bloke, a great player and one of our most experienced heads, someone who’s featured at a good level for a number of years.
“It’s been tough not having him in the team, but every week he’s applied himself brilliantly.
“Pickers has been a great team-mate, he’s trained brilliantly and his attitude has been good.
“It’s easy to be that way when things are going your way and you’re in the team, but when you’re not, that’s the true test of your character.
“His is first class, so I was pleased he got an opportunity today and that he did a great job for us.”
Keighley Cougars beat Halifax Panthers to honour Danny Jones | Bradford Telegraph and Argus
