Tahraoui sees red as Cougars crush the Scorpions

KEIGHLEY Cougars recorded a ten-try triumph in South Wales despite playing 45 minutes with 12 men.

Bulls loanee Samir Tahraoui saw red in the 36th minute for fighting after an exchange of blows in the tackle.

Despite the setback the Cougars’ back line of Josh Guzdek, Andy Gabriel and Paul White all recorded hat-tricks of tries at Mountain Ash.

Keighley raced into a 16-point lead with Guzdek scoring the first two of his tries off the back of Gabriel and Oliver Pursglove’s breaks before White grabbed his first after Player-Coach Paul March collected his own grubber.

The home side responded when Welsh international Connor Farrer showed great hands and speed to send Ian Newbury racing to the line.

The score was followed by the game’s big talking point with Tahraoui’s punch leaving the side a man down.

The second half proved to be a comfortable one as a tiring Scorpions’ defence fell apart to eventually gift a further seven tries to the visitors.

Guzdek fought his way over from two metres out to seal his trio of tries with Farrer squeezing over from the play the ball minutes later.

It was a temporary setback as Keighley ran out comfortable winners.

Gabriel scored two similar tries in the corner following scrums which led to repeat sets on the South Wales line.

James Feather’s well-executed pass put White in for a try before Olly Pursglove rolled through the tackle to score.

White’s threesome was wrapped up after a fantastic offload out the tackle by Hamish Barnes with Gabriel completing his treble by diving into the corner.