Match Report: Keighley Cougars

London Broncos 62 - 06 Keighley Cougars

London Broncos won their first round tie in the 1895 Cup, beating Keighley Cougars 62–6, running in 11 tries.

Before the match started, there was a guard of honour for Will Lovell, who was making his 203rd appearance for the club, passing legendary second-rower Steele Retchless. Will is now the most capped player for the London Broncos.

It took just under four minutes for London to open the scoring. Alex Max, who has missed more than two months with the injury he suffered in the Challenge Cup tie against Bradford Bulls, made an incisive burst and when a tackler approached him, he passed to Robert Mathias, who scored in the corner. Dean Hawkins took on the kicking duties with Jimmy Meadows on the interchange bench, but his kick drifted wide of the far post. It proved to be the only miss he would have in 10 attempts.

In the ninth minute, an error from Emmanuel Waine led to London’s second try, with Mathias setting up Gairo Voro.

Keighley responded in the 15th minute when Waine collected a chip kick from Connor Saynor and scored under the posts, allowing Izaac Farrell to convert.

Connor O’Beirne came on as an interchange and quickly scored London’s third try. A potential fourth was disallowed for a foot in touch, but Morea Morea soon added another with a 50-metre long run. A disallowed try for Lewis Bienek followed, before O’Beirne scored again late in the first half, helped by a possession advantage with a seven tackle set.

London extended their lead early in the second half with quick tries from Voro and Elliot Wallis. Marcus Stock added another from close range as Keighley.

In the 59th minute, London again attacked on the right and the ball went through many hands before Max ran into a gap and before any tacklers could react, he was touching down the ball.

London’s next foray into the defensive line saw a third try ruled out, and second for being held up in-goal. As it was a last-tackle play, the Cougars from their ten-metre line.

Max scored his second try in the 66th minute, after strong carries from starting prop forwards, Campbell-Gillard and Emarly Bitungane, who rampaged downfield for about 60 metres. After converting this score, Hawkins went off to be replaced by Meadows. He was soon called into kicking duties after Max set up Neil Tchamambe in the corner. Meadows’ kick kissed the outside of the right post.

The win sees the club move through to the Quarter Finals of the 1895 Cup.

London Broncos: 1 Morea Morea, 2 Elliot Wallis, 3 Robert Mathias, 4 Alex Max, 26 Neil Tchamambe, 23 Gairo Voro, 7 Dean Hawkins, 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9 Sam Davis, 10 Emarly Bitungane, 21 Will Lovell, 12 Jack Croft, 13 Siliva Havili. Replacements: 18 Jimmy Meadows, 6 Connor O’Beirne, 17 Marcus Stock, 24 Lewis Bienek. 18th man: 19 Ben Hursey-Hord

Tries: Mathias (2), Voro (9, 34), O’Beirne (25, 35), Morea (29), Wallis (46), Stock (56), Max (59, 66), Tchamambe (68)

Goals: Hawkins 9/10, Meadows 0/1

Keighley Cougars: 1 Connor Sayner, 2 Brad Holroyd, 4 Max Clarke, 18 Oli Whitford, 19 David Foggin Johnston, 6 Izaac Farrell, 35 Will Groves, 11 Lucas Green, 9 Oli Burton, 17 Jordan Schofield, 21 Alfie Dean, 33 Emmanuel Waine, 27 George Hill. Replacements: 8 Dan Parker, 20 Leo Skerrett Evans, 24 Ben Dean, 26 Nathan Rushworth. 18th man: 25 Will McCardle.

Tries: Waine (15)

Goals: Farrell 1/1

 Referee: Adam Williams

HT: 28–6

Penalty awarded count: 3–8

Match Report by David Ballheimer