KEIGHLEY Cougars' 2019 Betfred League One campaign started with a spirited 28-16 defeat at Whitehaven.

After a troubled off-season had robbed them of preparation time, it was a brave effort from Craig Lingard's side, who had just one pre-season match before this opener.

Now under new owners from the club's famous Cougarmania era - and backed by a healthy 200-strong following - Keighley showed fight from the word go and the effort of both the players and supporters was praised by the Cougars head coach.

Lingard said: “The effort was fantastic and the commitment was everything I could have asked of the lads.

“At times we lacked a bit of knowhow and showed a bit of naivety but that comes with a team that hasn’t played together much as we’re still in pre-season mode having only played two games.

“The support, though, was fantastic and as we went up to the fans at the end of the game one of the Whitehaven players came past and said it was outstanding.

“For an opposing player to recognise the effort of the supporters to come up here and make the noise that they did shows that it is definitely recognised by the Keighley players.

“I imagine anyone who watched the game from a Keighley perspective will be proud.”

They were nearly over for the first score when Josh Lynam was held up over the line.

The visitors did break the deadlock just two minutes later as full-back Matt Welham broke through the line with a show and go before racing round to touch down.

After staunch defending to keep the hosts out, Keighley doubled their lead when Benn Hardcastle put a chip over the top on the last and Jack Miller plucked it out of the air to cross the whitewash.

The home side got onto the scoreboard through Chris Taylor, who took advantage of the numbers on the overlap after Matthew Bailey was penalised for a high tackle close to the line.

And the Cumbrian outfit drew level when Dion Aiye broke the line and offloaded to Jake Moore, who just managed to evade the interests of Lynam to touch down.

The half ended on a sour note, however, for Whitehaven as Jordan Thompson was carried from the field on a stretcher during the half-time interval.

Keighley came close to retaking the lead in the second half when Luke Million was held up over the line.

But Lingard’s side retook the lead when great work by Will Cooke created space in the corner for Davey Dixon to score.

However, the home side drew level once more through Andrew Bulman, who scored with a spectacular diving effort.

Whitehaven took the lead for the first time of the afternoon when Moore sidestepped his way round an attempted tackle to fall over the line next to the sticks.

The Cougars suffered a body blow as captain Hardcastle was carried injured from the field with 17 minutes left on the clock.

And the hosts sealed the two points as Jason Mossop broke at the line with a show and go before sending Bulman racing 40 metres to the line.

The game ended with Moore taking the two points on offer for a flailing arm that brought with a bit of 'biff' that saw both Kris Coward and James Feather sent to the sin-bin with two minutes remaining.

So the dawn of a new era at Cougars ended in defeat that leaves Keighley still on minus 12 due to their points deduction - but with much cause for optimism after a battling display.

PLAYER RATINGS:

COUGARS: Welham 7; Dixon 6; Cooke 6; Hallett 5; Seeley 5; Miller 7; Hardcastle 6; Bailey 5; Feather 7; Thackray 7; Lynam 7; Muranka 6; Beckett 5. Subs: Coventry 5; Million 5; R Williams 6; Wray.

WHITEHAVEN: Forrester 5; Bulman 7; Mossop 6; Taylor 5; D Thompson 5; Aiye 7; C Phillips 5; Shackley 6; Newton 5; Coward 6; Moore 8; B Phillips 5; Wilkinson 5. Subs: Parker 5; Dowsett 5; Holliday 6; J Thompson 5.

COUGARS: Tries: Welham; Miller; Dixon. Goals: Hardcastle (2/3). Sin Bin: Feather (78 – Fighting)

WHITEHAVEN: Tries: Taylor; Moore; Bulman. Goals: Moore (4/6). Sin Bin: Coward (78 – Fighting)

ATTENDANCE: 897

REFEREE: Stephen Race (Wakefield)