COUGARS launched their league campaign with a comfortable victory over new boys Blackpool Panthers.

After the passion and determination shown in the first half of their Good Friday clash with Halifax this game was a Bank Holiday stroll in the park, and at time they looked rather too relaxed.

But the young guns in Moorby's side showed real promise for the season ahead.

Paul Ashton is firing on all cyclinders and has returned to Cougars with a renewed appetite for the game.

Matt Bramald, although one of the senior statesmen of the side, has transformed the team at full back.

Blackpool have not had the brightest start to their life back in Rugby League after taking up where Chorley left off. Coach Mark Lee was the first victim of the new campaign, being replaced even before the league season got underway. His place on the coach's bench has been taken by former Great Britain international Kevin Ashcroft who has also coached at Salford, Warrington and Leigh.

He was left choking in the stands in frustration as his side failed to take advantage of long periods of possession.

After Ashton had slotted a penalty to give the Keighley side an early lead the Panthers kept Cougars pinned in their own half for 15 minutes.

But when they finally broke out Matty Firth lofted a teasing crossfield kick which was misjudged by Gary Rourke who knocked on.

Cougars piled on the pressure and Paul Ashton chipped through and followed his own kick, stepping through the Blackpool defence to touch down and add the conversion.

Cougars kept the pressure on the Blackpool defence and Matt Foster led the left wing raiding part to drive Gary Rourke, who was having a nightmare day, back over his own line, forcing a drop out from beneath the posts.

A break by Johnny Wainhouse secured another penalty for holding down and Ashton added his third goal to secure a 10-0 lead.

On 30 minutes Andy Robinson was tackled into touch by the corner flag, but a Panthers knock-on minutes later handed possession back to Keighley. Adam Mitchell was held just short of the line, but Ashton made no mistake with another penalty as the Panthers were made to pay for their indiscipline.

Blackpool had hardly posed a threat throughout the half, but in the dying moments Glen Goodbee strolled over for the simplest of touchdowns after his side had spilled the ball and the Cougar defence stopped, expecting a knock-on call which didn't come

Richard Ramsdale's conversion put the Panthers back in the game just 6-12 down at the break.

Cougars were first to strike five minutes into the second half, when Matty Firth launched a cross field kick that was collected at speed by Matt Foster who dropped over the line.

Their healthy lead didn't last long at Glen Goodbee took advantage of a missed tackle to break away with just enough pace to beat the defence. The conversion left the Panthers just four points behind - at 12-16 - and the next score would be vital.

Sam Gardner, who has been growing in stature on the right wing, came up with the goods. Ashton hoisted a high ball, Gardner timed his jump to perfection and was rewarded with a clear run to the line.

After slugging it out in midfield for much of the half Matty Firth and Matt Bramald combined for the try that sealed the Cougar victory, Ashton's kick taking them 14 points clear.

In the dying second Robinson raced in for a try on the left, but was harshly ruled offside by Dewsbury referee Jamie Leahy.