Gateshead 26, Cougars 30 - ONE storming move from Oliver Wilkes put the fight back in Cougar hearts after they came close to defeat by bottom club Gateshead Thunder.

The young forward hammered into Thunder substitute Neil Thorman, then dragged him over 12 yards to his own try line.

The move left Gateshead fans furious, but referee Steve Addy ruled it was lawful and after the home side dropped out Dave Foster forced his way over to put Cougars back in the game.

Captain James Rushforth completed the rescue act with a late try which saved his side's blushes.

After suffering a crushing defeat at Featherstone the previous week the Keighley side were desperate to end their slide, but they found it tough going against the NFP's bottom club.

Thunder looked a much better side than the team they had beaten 32-16 in the Buddies National Cup in May, but Cougars have missed the opportunity to show a similar improvement in form over the last two months.

Things started well with Mick Durham forcing his way over after just three minutes. Lee Patterson, who has taken over kicking duties with the Cougars, added the first of his three conversions.

The early six-point lead looked set to lay the foundation for an impressive victory, particularly after Matty Firth added a second converted try after just ten minutes.

Simeon Hoyle made it 18-4 after Richie Barnett had opened the scoring for the home team after beating Max Tomlinson, who is never confident under a high ball, to a bomb.

Rushforth and Danny Fearon produced one of their impressive combinations to send Hoyl over and Patterson added the conversion.

But then things went badly wrong for the Cougars. Three tries in 12 minutes put Gateshead firmly in command.

Paul Thorman sliced through the defence and Micky Walker followed up with twin tries to give Thunder a 20-18 lead at the break.

Craig Fisher burst through from dummy half early in the second half and an unthinkable defeat looked possible as Cougars slipped 26-18 behind.

Craig Horne was sinbinned, but the home side failed to take advantage and their own an, Walker, was shown the yellow card just as Horne returned to the action.

Aussie Mick Durham put in the battling David Foster for the try which put them back into the game after Wilkes had forced Thunder to kick out from beneath their own posts.

Paul Ashton converted to reduce the deficit to just two points and Rushforth was determined his team would not go down, scoring the winning try.