York Knights eased into the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup, with a comprehensive 72-12 win over Keighley Cougars at Cougar Park.
Six unanswered first half tries put the game out of sight by the break, to set up a plum tie at home to Hull KR in the third round on Friday evening.
The second half brought a further seven tries for Mark Applegarth’s side in a game in which their try line was rarely threatened.
Jesse Dee, Liam Harris, Jack Teaby and Oli Field all scored a brace, while Myles Harrison was successful with 10 of 13 conversion attempts.
The first try came after just three minutes, after Levi Edwards had set York up 10 metres out. Ata Hingano weaved his way through the defence and Myles Harrison, on kicking duty in place of Will Dagger, added the extras.
A Keighley knock on soon set up another good position for the Knights, and as the ball was moved from right to left, Levi Edwards took a short pass to crash in for another converted try.
The Knights were finding joy down the left, and almost scored again, only for Harrison to be held up. However the Knights were looking comfortable in the face of some tough Keighley tackling.
A huge kick downfield then put York 10 metres out, after Keighley’s Oliver Whitford failed to deal with it cleanly near his own line. Dee was the next to score, taking a beautifully timed pass from Hingano to hit a gap in the defensive line. Harrison couldn’t convert.
More pressure came, with the ball being shipped from right to left then back again. Sam Cook was held up, before Harris dummied his way through. Harrison added the extra two to take the score to 22-0 after 27 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, Harris produced some of his trademark magic, dancing his way through the defence and accelerating in for his second of the game. It set up an easy conversion for Harrison, almost right in front of the posts.
Just before the break, York were in again, when Jesse Dee crashed over on the back of some off the cuff play. Harrison converted for a 34-0 half time lead.
York picked up in the second half where they left off in the first, with Fitzsimmons forcing his way over just after the restart for another Harrison converted try.
Brenden Santi was the next to score, taking a Hingano pass to score against his former club. Harrison tagged on the goal from in front of the sticks.
A penalty for a late contact on the kicker gave Keighley their first chance to test the York goal line defence. Jack Miller found a way through, and converted his own try for the Cougars’ first points of the game.
Any momentum Keighley tried to gain was hindered when Harry Bowes was sin-binned for a high challenge on Santi. While he was off the field, Jack Teanby crossed to bring up the 50 point mark.
Harrison then scooted down the wing to score in the corner, taking a looping pass out wide from Hingano. He converted his own try with a towering touchline effort.
Oli Field then took a lovely short ball from Joe Brown to score, before Teanby went in for his second off a Harris pass.
An interception allowed Oliver Whitford to score a consolation converted try for Keighley with five minutes to go, but with Harris putting Field in again before the hooter sounded, the Knights broke the 70 point mark and booked a place in the third round.
Keighley: Sammut, Walkley, Whitford, Sa’u, Holroyd, Farrell, Miller, Bajer, Bowes, Schofield, Ryder, Lanskey, Parker
Subs (all used): Flanagan, Aliyu, McKler, Cousins
18th Player: Hartley
Tries: Miller (52), (75)
Goals: Miller (2/2)
Sin Bin: Bowes (55)
York: Brown, Law, Buchanan, Edwards, Harrison, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Thompson, Dee, Field, Gannon
Subs (all used): Cook, Teanby, Fitzsimmons, Santi
18th Player: Pemberton
Tries: Hingano (3), Edwards (11), Dee (19, 40), Harris (27, 34), Fitzsimmons (43), Santi (47), Teanby (58, 73), Harrison (60), Field (68, 79)
Goals: Harrison (10/13)
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