Cougars 38, LondonSkolars 10 - VICTORY-STARVED Cougar fans were at last served up something to celebrate - and were given four reasons to rejoice.

Fans favourite Matt Foster scored his 100th try for the club, wingers Andy Robinson and Matt Bramald both scored hat-tricks of tries, and the team clocked up its first win in 17 games.

After the win, which has been a long time coming, Foster's try reminded those dotted around the terraces of the days when they would have been packed in with thousands of fellow supporters. This time there was a 'crowd' of just 704 hardy souls to help celebrate a career landmark from a player who made his debut at Cougar Park ten years ago and, despite a break, has played his best rugby with the club.

His touch down showed the determination and spirit which is still a big part of his game, clutching Matty Firth's grubber kick for a try just inside the deadball line when many would have given up the chase.

It was a real tonic for club chairman Neil Spencer who was back in the stands less than three weeks after undergoing a quadruple heart by-pass operation, following a heart attack on Christmas Day.

Foster, who was Cougars' man of the match, also had a hand in both the opening tries for his wingman Andy Robinson. The first came after a well-time pass from Daniel Harvey had sent Foster racing clear before sending Robinson in at the corner after 11 minutes. Adam Mitchell's touchline conversion attempt slid across the face of the posts.

Five minutes later Robinson collected his second try after slick handling across the line had again given Foster the chance to use a burst of speed to out-pace the Skolars' defence. Robinson dived over from acting half and this time Mitchell was successful with the kick from a couple of yards infield.

Firth had been prodding and probing the London defences with darting runs, but it was his angled grubber kick with provided Foster with his 'centenary' celebrations and Mitchell's kick gave Cougars a 16-0 lead.

They were still celebrating when Kirk Pittman went over for an easy try under the posts and Tim Gee added the conversion to give the Londonders a little hope as the game approached half time.

But the most impressive charge of the game came from Jason Clegg, who broke a string of tackles to make 20 yards. It was the longest run of the big man's Cougar career.

A Mitchell penalty put Cougars 18-6 up when the half time hooter sounded and the only complaint could be that they had let the Skolars in for a soft try.

Matt Bramald began the second period with the first of his hat-trick of tries which came from an impressive break from Paul Ashton, who had clearly recovered from the pre-season concussion which had kept him out of the first two cup games. He linked up with David Foster who put Bramald clear. The conversion attempt hit the upright.

Indiscipline saw young referee R Hicks giving his yellow card plenty of exercise with Johnny Wainhouse and London's Rupert Jonker getting their marching orders following a brawl and Stuart Singleton followed, reducing the Skolars to 11 men.

Cougars took advantage with Bramald going in for his second try and Robinson completing his hat-trick as he finished off another Matt Foster break, with Paul Ashton adding the extra points.

After 70 minutes Bramald completed his hat-trick with Ashton again creating the telling break, and adding the conversion to complete the Keighley side's 38-point haul.

With just five minutes to go Ashley Tozer scrambled over for a second London try, but it did not take the edge of an impressive Cougar performance. On their trip to Halifax next Sunday they will have the opportunity to show whether they can repeat the performance against stiffer opposition.