KEIGHLEY finally welcomed their Ukrainian visitors to Cougar Park, as they got to see a dramatic Easter Saturday game against Hunslet.
Unfortunately for them and for the home side, the game went the way of the Parksiders, who claimed a dramatic 42-30 away victory in this Betfred Championship.
Issues at the Poland and Ukraine border meant the young Kyiv Rhinos could not come to Keighley as planned last season, so their trip from Eastern Europe was rearranged for this Easter weekend.
And what they saw, along with all the other spectators, was a rollercoaster encounter.
Keighley’s squad is beset by injuries at present, while Hunslet saw Mason Corbett and Emmerson Whittel retire just days before the game, so both teams were dealing with major adversity.
It was Cougars who looked to coping best early on, converted tries from Brad Holroyd and Matty Beharrell putting them 12-0 up after only 10 minutes.
But Hunslet turned the game on its head with three scores in nine minutes, Jimmy Watson, Billy Jowitt and Ethan O’Hanlon all crossing the whitewash.
Former Bulls forward Emmanuel Waine levelled the game up at 18-18 when he scored Cougars’ third converted try on 27 minutes.
But a quickfire brace from Myles Harrop put Hunslet in the box seat again shortly before half-time.
Holroyd reduced the gap by scoring a converted try just moments before the hooter, Beharrell adding the extras to leave his side just 26-24 behind.
The superb Lucas Green built on that momentum with a score five minutes after the break, Beharrell subsequently making it five conversions from five.
But Liam Carr’s try levelled the scores on 52 minutes, with Jowitt adding the extras to edge Hunslet back in front.
It got worse for Keighley when Alfie Dean was sin-binned for not moving away, a harsh-looking decision given he appeared to be held on to by a Hunslet player, which prevented him from getting up.
And with a man advantage, the Parksiders moved further clear when a sensational break from Harvey Hallas allowed him to set up a try for former Cougars outside back Charlie Graham.
That went unconverted, so Keighley were still within a converted score of levelling the game.
But while Dean came back on to even up the teams again, Cougars then lost David Foggin-Johnston to the sin-bin for a blatant professional foul.
And Hunslet were not about to let their second golden opportunity slip away.
They finally made the game safe with five minutes left, Harrison Gilmore scoring their eighth and last try of the afternoon.
Jowitt pinged the conversion through the sticks, sealing a memorable win for the visitors.
Keighley will feel they did not get the rub of the green, especially considering Hunslet went unpunished for what appeared to be a high shot on Izaac Farrell in the first half.
Beharrell then appeared to be the victim of a late hit off the ball and he was later forced off.
But the home side’s defensive work left a lot to be desired, though perhaps the excellent Green and Dan Parker can be exempted after their superb shifts.
Keighley have slipped to 13th in the 20-team table, so they desperately need players back.
Jordan Schofield may return for their game with North Wales Crusaders this coming Sunday, but his fellow prop Leo Aliyu could miss several months of action due to concussion complications.
Lachlan Lanskey (hamstring) and Jack Teanby (shoulder) are both set to return at some point next month.
Aaron Brown (knee) still has an unknown return date, but Cougars say the loose forward is making progress with the injury.
Promising outside back Dylan Proud has recovered from the concussion he suffered in the defeat against the Midlands Hurricanes at the end of last month, so he too should feature against North Wales.
In further good news, Max Clarke, Oli Burton and Oli Whitford all appeared to come through Hunslet unscathed on their returns from injury.
Keighley Cougars welcome Ukraine visitors for Hunslet defeat | Bradford Telegraph and Argus
