Heworth 0 vs 66 Keighley Cougars. Betfred Challenge Cup round 2. Saturday 24.1.26. 1.30pm kick-off.

In round 2 of the Betfred Challenge Cup Heworth, despite a commendable and determined effort, fell to a 66-0 defeat at the hands of Championship outfit Keighley Cougars in front of a sizeable crowd at Elmpark Way. The Villagers went into the match having not had a game after their round 1 opponents the Royal Air Force withdrew from the Competition following the postponement of the initial fixture due to a frozen pitch. Whilst this was not the ideal preparation to face their semi-professional opponents their side containing several promising youngsters dug deep to fully play their part in a fast free flowing contest which earned them many plaudits for a gutsy and committed eighty minute display which did the Club and the Community game as a whole proud. The Cougars though showed the gulf in class between the two teams and simply possessed too much pace and power for the gallant hosts which produced a total of thirteen tries to cruise into the third round. 

The hosts trailed 30-0 at the break after Keighley posted six unanswered tries to virtually end the match as a contest. Eleven minutes into the second period the Cougars added a further touchdown before Heworth went close after finally gaining some good field position in their opponents twenty metre area they produced some impressive handling to create an overlap on the left edge but the final pass went to ground and the chance went begging. The Villagers, to their credit kept plugging away and again threatened to get themselves on the scoreboard when a stray pass by the visitors on halfway led to stand off Dan Clarke hacking on the loose ball but his follow up effort was denied by a Cougars defender who had raced back to snap up possession just metres from the line. The remainder of the half belonged solely to the West Yorkshire side who took full advantage of a tiring defence to post six further touchdowns to run out comfortable winners.

Try scorers for Keighley were Max Clarke (4), Oliver Whitford (3), Oliver Burton (2), Dylan Proud, Jack Teanby, Jordan Schofield and man of the match Lucas Green. Matty Beharrell slotted seven conversions. 

Full back Fraser West took the man of the match award for Heworth.

The Villagers now have six weeks to prepare for their eagerly awaited return to the newly named National Premier League when they travel over the river to face fierce local rivals York Acorn on Saturday 7 March.

Match report-Dave Ward