Swinton Lions 17, Keighley Cougars 19: In the end the scoreline was a lot closer than perhaps it should have been. The Cougars were coasting at half-time, leading 18-3, but Swinton exploited every Keighley error in the second half to push this game to the wire.

Cougars coach Gary Moorby showed mixed emotions afterwards, saying: "The bottom line was that after last week's defeat against Sheffield we had to show character. And we did.

"But we just could not settle down on the restart, forcing the pass and doing everything I told them not to do at the break.

"At the end of the day though we got the result and it looked a lot closer than it should have been. They bagged an interception try with literally 40 seconds to go to make the deficit just two points but it should have never got to that.

"We've just got to get our heads focused on Gateshead next week, concentrate on getting the result up there and see what the other teams do to see where we will finish."

Swinton opened the scoring with a Chris Hough drop goal from their first set of six but for the next half hour it was all Keighley.

With the Cougar pack dominating, half backs Paul Ashton and Matti Firth ran the show. After ten minutes Ashton broke the line, found Simeon Hoyle in support, and he sent Ian Sinfield over.

Ten minutes later Ashton again proved decisive to send Sinfield over for his second try, which doubled his tally for the season, and Ashton landed both conversions.

On the half-hour, Firth found Andy Robinson with a long pass and the young winger easily scored Keighley's third try, again converted by Ashton.

All Swinton could manage in the first half was a penalty from Hough.

Similarly, all Keighley added after the break was a field goal from Ashton, but it was enough to ensure both points and it takes the race for the Division Two honours and final placings right to the final week - on Sunday.