Blackpool Panthers 26 - Keighley Cougars 34

Blackpool Panthers will end their wretched run of consecutive defeats sooner rather than later if this performance is repeated in the near future. The Cougars stand off Danny Jones proved to be the pivotal figure after notching 18 points, including two tries. However, the Panthers deserved much more, much more from this game – and looked odds on to claim their first victory since July 2006, when they went 18-6 up after 31 minutes through tries by Carl Jones, Kris Ratcliffe and Jon Leather. Unfortunately a crucial two minute spell immediately before half time saw the deficit cut to just four points, following tries by Ryan Smith and George Raynor latching onto Richard Knight’s neat grubber kick on the hooter.

Cougars continued their revival after the break with a try double from Dan Potter and Karl Smith in the opening 10 minutes of the second half to regain the lead at 24-18. But, just when you thought they were done, the Panthers came steaming back with a six minute double of their own thanks to unconverted scores from Eddie Kilgannon and a second for, man of the match, Carl Jones. That made it Blackpool 26-24 just before the hour mark. In a game dominated by Joneses, Keithley’s Danny then notched a penalty to level things up in the 64th minute. Danny then clinched the game five minutes from time when he caught his own up and under kick, in a mid-air tussel with Blackpool full-back Leather, to dive over under the posts.He kicked the extras- and also kicked a penalty right on the final hooter.

At least the Panthers wil keep believing that their new found confidence, which is blatant for all to see, and which caused one spectator to comment that the try scored by Carl Jones was worth the admission money alone, will result in that much elusive win, being just around the corner.

Man of the Match - Carl Jones

Attendance: 386