KEIGHLEY COUGARS V DUNDEE DRAGONS

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY LEAGUE FRIENDLY

UNIVERSITY ACADEMY CAMPUS KEIGHLEY

 SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2017 11AM

Match Report by DDWSC Vice-Chairman Kevin Rattray. 

Both teams were slightly depleted of playing numbers for the match with basketball, Invictus Games training and work commitments cutting down on the playing numbers but no shortage of enthusiasm and talent on display.

The match started with Richard Johnson from Bradford Bulls and Mathew Micklethwaite taking up their respective refereeing positions.

Huge thanks to both of these guys your assistance on the day was absolutely invaluable.

Dundee elected to receive and were first to show with an early try from Ronny Robb, converted by himself which really settled the Dundee nerves, although Keighley’s Becky was denied a try by a last-ditch Robb tackle as she ghosted between the elder citizens Kevin Rattray and Mairi Simms.

Dundee’s pace continued to challenge the Keighley defence, although they held from for long periods, but quick tries by Robb and Stephen Carling, who’s pace was a real threat all match, put Dundee in control.

Keighley continued to push towards the Dundee line with a very effective kicking game forcing Dundee to drop out from under the posts on numerous occasions.

As the half progressed Dundee’s organisation and constant changing of the point of attack became very difficult to defend and tries followed from Robb twice and Carling with an excellent team try, and converted by himself.

The half stumbled to an end with Rattray’s creaking bones dotting down a try, created by Robb, which the scorer duly converted.

Half Time Cougars 0 Dragons 36

Dundee kicked off the second half into a stiff breeze (not really, but I felt like it was uphill into that breeze)

Carling scored for Dundee very early into the second half and it looked like Dundee might go on to dominate the proceedings, but this Keighley team is made of strong stuff.

They forced Dundee back again and again and were only denied tries by a bouncing ball that wouldn’t bounce the right way and a fantastic sweep from one side of the court to the other to save the day for Dundee’s defence by Jay Anderson.

It was now time for Anderson to show her attacking abilities with a fantastic team try where the ball came from Simms to Robb onto Carling then into Rattray’s hands to give a pass to Anderson to score in the corner, the tricky conversion was the only one missed all afternoon.

Anderson then followed this with her second try in quick succession and knocked over the conversion with great skill.

The match came to an end with Ronny Robb scoring and converting the final try of the match to cap an excellent Man of the Match performance.

Final Score Cougars 0 Dragons 58

Thanks to Gavin Dobson for keeping a record of the scoring, as there is no way that I would remember, not that I’m old and forgetful it’s just that……..

Keighley’s welcome hospitality followed as we all mingled with the participants celebrating Cougars legend Brendon Rawlings testimonial event, good luck Brendon from all of us at Dundee Dragons.

Chat moved onto league matches next year where hopefully we’ll meet up again on a home and away basis.

The journey home was considerably better than the journey down and the clouds parted as we crossed the border as you would expect and the sun shone on us

(OK it was just a coincidence but let me have some dramatic license!)

Next, and final, WRL event for 2017 will be at The Emirates Arena on 7 October 2017 with a come and try and a match against Glasgow panthers, what a great way to finish a history making season!