Kingstone Press League 1 Preview: Keighley Cougars v Newcastle Thunder

Keighley Cougars slipped to second after their defeat by Swinton Lions.

Coach Paul March said: “I thought defensively we switched off at crucial times and offensively it was probably the worst game we’ve played with ball in hand. We need to fix that up going into this week’s game, which is another tough one.

“The hurdles that we’re jumping over are getting a bit bigger with the amount of injuries we’re picking up. In the last two weeks we’ve lost Ash Lindsay with a broken leg, Paul Handforth with a torn calf and Scott Lee broke his arm at the weekend. That’s in addition to the loss of Shaun Leaf, Jode Sheriffe and obviously Danny Jones as well. But if we stick together and keep jumping these hurdles it will make it a bit sweeter once we hopefully achieve our goal.”

Newcastle Thunder’s performance against York City Knights was their worst of the season according to coach Stanley Gene: “I was very unhappy,” he said.

“We’ve taken some beatings throughout the season but that was one I couldn’t take. York on the day played really well.

“Keighley also lost and they are a good team who will be looking to be getting back to winning ways. We’re soul searching and want to get back on a winning track so it will be a very interesting game.”