Panthers 22 - Keighley Cougars  24

On a pitch that only passed fit for play earlier in the day, Blackpool Panthers set about their illustrious visitors with great gusto and made the Cougars look anything but a newly promoted, Championship, side.

Keighley did open the scoring when new Blackpool full back, Paul Ballard was forced to concede an early goal line drop out and Danny Jones opened the scoring with an eigth minute penalty. But Blackpool then took charge and were in control for most of the first 50 minutes. Their first spell of pressure was rewarded with a 20th minute try by Tom Woodcock after Casey Mayberry latched on to a Tom Hemingway grubber. Dave Best then made a break almost immediately on the restart, with john clough in support. Craig Moss stemmed the initial threat but Martin Ainscough then swept the ball wide for Damien Munro to cross. Mayberry was then held up as the Panthers remained on top and Keighley did not look scoring as they lacked any fluency in attack.

Blackpool extended their 12 -2 half time lead just after the restart as Ballard finished off a sweeping move by sending over fellow newcommer Ainscough. Keighley were given hope when following a series om silly penalties, Best was shown a yellow card for an infringement at the ruck and three minutes later Cougars scored their first try as Rawlins' powered over under the posts. Having regained pocession from the restart the home side immediately gave away pocession conceeded a penalty from which Keighlet scored next to the posts through Belcher.

The home side looked like they would hold off the Keighley fightback when Duffy failed to deal with Hemingway's gribber kick and Kris Ratcliffe pounced to touch down. Hemingway's conversion reopened an eight point lead with 22 minutes left but that proved not to be enough. Jon Presley broke the Blackpool line and Haythornthwaite was in support to score just six minutes after coming on. Although Blackpool regained pocession they failed to take advantage and some strong running from Andy Shickell set up Keighley's decisive try. Duffy made amends for his earlier error by touching down James Feather's grubber into the corner. And although Ballard looked certian to score following a delightful John Clough break, Duffy recovered to tap Ballard's heels and stop a certain try. Victory for the visitors was then assured when with the line at his mercy Hemingway failed to gather Kurt Haggerty's offload at the death.

Man of the match - Tom Hemingway

Attendance 468