Saturday 1st September 2001
National Conference Division 2
Cottingham 23 Keighley Albion 4

Cottingham opened their account with this gripping success over an Albion side also looking for their first success.

In a tight first half both sides had a player sin-binned, Jon Gwilliam for the Albion and the Tigers' Richard Anderson, but not before loose-forward Anderson had added a field goal to a 20th minute penalty from Sam Wray for a 3-0 interval lead.

Gary Mowforth put winger Joe Musgrave in for a 43rd minute try to increase that lead, and three minutes later it was Phil Musgrave adding a second as Wray goaled both.

When stand-off Lee Craig backed up Phil Musgrave for a third Tigers try on 68 minutes it was all over for the Albion, especially when the second row man scored the Tigers' fourth touchdown.  But the Albion battled on and five minutes from the end Rob Haughey claimed a consolation try.
From Rugby League Express 3/9/01

Albion travelled to Humberside to face Cottingham Tigers who, like Albion, were looking for their first win of the season.  Albion had the better of the earlier exchanges but failed to turn pressure into points, after going close on a couple of occasions but poor handling let them down.

From a penalty in their own 10m area the Tigers' Simon Wray kick put Albion on 19m but Albion were penalised for again for holding down and Simon Wray converted the penalty goal for a 2-0 lead.  Jon Gwilliam and debutant Danny Horne were working hard to get Albion on the attack but a drop goal from the Tigers' Richard Anderson pushed them into a 3 -0 lead on 35 minutes.  Minutes later the referee put Gwilliam and Anderson in the sin bin.  It had been a close first half but Albion had created chances but poor handling had cost them the lead.  Half time Tigers 3 Albion 0.

Straight from the kick-off the Tigers put Albion under pressure and weak defending saw Tigers' centre Gary Mowforth put winger Joe Musgrave in for a  try, goaled by Simon Wray, to show Tigers 9-0 in the lead on 43 mins.

In the 46th minute Albion went further behind when an individual try by Phil Musgrave, goaled by Simon Wray, gave the Tigers a 15-0 lead.  Albion worked hard to get back into the game with Craig Morphett and Steve Wrench working overtime in attack and defence but handling errors and poor discipline let them down.  Tigers' half back Lee Craig backed up Phil Musgrave's break for a try on 68 minutes and it looked all over for Albion.  Minutes later it was as second rower Phil Hatton scored a try wide out for a 23-0 lead.

Albion hit back in the closing minutes when Jon Gwilliam put Rob Haughey in for a consolation try.  That saw the goal attempt go wide of the posts.  The final score was 23-4 in the Tigers favour.

Richard Anderson was the Tigers' Man of the Match.  For Albion it was Chris Hogg.  Danny Horne and Craig Morphett stood out but they will have to work more as a team to get the ball rolling.
From the Keighley News 7/9/01

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