Referee incurs Eaton's anger in Cougars' loss at Whitehaven

The vagaries of the Northern Rail Cup groupings has pitted Keighley against old foes Halifax and the less local Cumbrian outfits, Whitehaven and Workington Town.

Sunday's first outing found Keighley at the Recreation Ground against National League One team Whitehaven. They have won their group every season since this tournament began. They were also beaten finalists last year.

Reputations count for nothing and whilst Haven were still in the station, the Cougars were out of the sidings, pulling away by the eighth minute, courtesy of a Neil Lowe barge over from two and a half metres. This followed intelligent interlink play by Jon Presley, Craig Fawcett and James Feather.

Richard Knight tagged on the extras for a deserved 6-0 lead.

In fact Keighley could have opened their account after only two minutes when George Rayner burst past Ade Adebisi to leave him floundering. But in lottery conditions underfoot, he was unable to punch the ticket and was taken down by an ankle tap from full back Gary Broadbent.

The home side began to build a head of steam and crossed Keighley's line after 24 minutes.

John Duffy put in a quick short pass to Liam Finch, who then fed Carl Rudd to go over, all to no avail as the pass was adjudged forward.

Two minutes later Whitehaven had another try chalked off, again for a forward pass. Minutes later Finch could not be denied and Rudd converted to level the scores.

Keighley continued to take the game to the National League One side, but after 35 minutes Scott McAvoy broke three tackles for Haven's second try, much to Barry Eaton's frustration.

Rudd goaled to give Whitehaven breathing space at 12-6, and brought up his personal tally to 600 points.

Turning round after half-time with a 12-6 deficit the Cougars pressed which allowed Rudd to offload to Broadbent with the try line seemingly open. Broadbent knocked on in the tackle to complete Haven's hat-trick of disallowed tries.

In ever worsening conditions under foot the Cougars found it difficult to gain yards, only making 40 before being forced to kick on the fifth tackle.

Haven, in the ascendancy, drove fiercely up the centre. Rudd then found Finch, and with the Cougar defence stretched, allowed Derry Eilbeck to go over in the corner, although there was a suspicion of a forward pass in the build up.

Rudd missed the tight touchline conversion.

Haven's next try also had a touch of good fortune, John Duffy''s pass to Ryan McDonald was certainly forward but went unpenalised. It was however noticed by the linesman and the vociferous Keighley coach Barry Eaton.

The linesman appeared to signal the infringement, but took no further action, as the referee awarded the try, much to the annoyance of Eaton.

To add insult to injury Rudd added the extras which effectively closed the game out at 22-6.

Keighley tried to blitz but in so doing left gaps in their defensive line, which Finch exploited for 70 metres, before finding Leroy Joe on the inside. He made the line and Rudd goaled once more.

A minute later Keighley hit back. The grafting Andy Shickell had apparently oiled his shirt to slip the grip of four tacklers and bulldoze his way over to bring up double figures for Keighley. Unfortunately, Knight''s conversion hit the post.

The final score of the day belonged to the home side and was once again fortunate.

Finch's penalty kick for touch failed to find it, the ball bouncing back in field. Rayner tried to keep the ball alive by tapping it back.

Unfortunately his only company was Haven winger Adebisi. The fast thinking finisher was on it in a flash, hacking on and chasing down for Haven's sixth try.

A belligerent Barry Eaton was quick to praise his charges, but equally scathing of the officials whose communication at times distinctly lacking: "I don't believe we got the rub of the green today, with the linesman failing to communicate with the referee.

"Tries three and four stemmed from forward passes in the build up. Without them we were very much in the game."

His victorious opposite number, Paul Garvey gave the Cougars' generous plaudits: "In atrocious conditions both teams tried to play rugby.

"Keighley seemed like a well organised unit and certainly made a game out of it, issuing an early statement of intent.

"I was impressed with their pace and fervour which they kept up for the full 80 minutes.

"If they play like they did against us they should go well in National League Twp this season."