Barrow 16, Cougars 18 - ANDY ROBINSON was the hero of travelling Cougar fans after he surged through for a late winner in their crunch clash with Barrow last weekend.

It looked as if the chance of a win had slipped from their grasp when Jason Ramshaw as sent off for an alleged punch late in the game.

But Gary Moorby's side dug deep and produced the winner with the last move.

The match was a typically uncompromising battle on the Cumbrian coast with no quarter asked, or given, by either side. But it Jason Ramshaw who felt the wrath of the referee when he was dismissed for punching after 70 minutes.

He had dominated early play and it looked as if the chance of victory had slipped through the fingers of the Cougar team. After Barrow added a penalty the Keighley side trailed 16-10 with time running out, but they showed the character which saw them unbeaten for the early part of the league campaign.

Dave Foster, who never gives anything less than 100 per cent and has been growing in confidence throughout the season, produced a barnstorming finish.

He forced his way through a pile of Barrow defenders to get the touchdown after chasing a carefully weighted kick through. His score put them back into the game at 16-14 and Cougars threw everything into the final few minutes.

They were pounding the Barrow line, but with time running out the home club had possession and it seemed the chance of a win had gone. But Australian second row man James King, knocked on inside his own 20m area.

The ball was back in Cougar hands and once again it flashed through six pairs of hands before Dave Foster again played the vital role.

The ball flew out to him on the left, he blasted forward and created the space for Robinson to squeeze over for the winner.

Fans who had made the long journey were sent home in raptures.

Robinson, a quiet man of the team, had also started the game on a high when he followed up a Ramshaw grubber kick to score after 10 minutes and set the ball rolling on a rollercoaster clash.

The home side hit back with a try from Jamie Marshall, but with Ramshaw revelling in his return to hooker, as stand-in for the suspended Simeon Hoyle, it was Keighley who edged the opening period.

He powered through the defence from acting half for a typical Ramshaw try to secure a 10-6 lead at the break.

If the first half belonged to the Cougars the opening period of the second half certainly belonged to Barrow. They were determined to fight their way back into the game and Jamie Smith gave them the lead when he burst through from his own half to go in under the posts.

Two penalties saw them stretch their lead to 16-10 as Cougars lost their composure and handed them points on a plate.

Similar indiscretions have been their undoing in the past and could have cost them dearly if it had not been for Dave Foster's determination and Robinson's glorious final touchdown.

The 18-16 victory has left them just behind Chorley-Lynx on points-difference at the top of the table - with Sheffield snapping at their heels.

And the Eagles travel to Cougar Park on Sunday for what could be the clash of the season, but the Keighley side have rediscovered their confidence and have a real opportunity to show home fans what they are capable of.

After Sunday's game coach Gary Moorby was delighted with the performance of his team. "The lads were tremendous. We expected a tough, physical encounter and certainly got one. They have a big set of forwards, but we stood our ground and met them head on.

"We got very few favours from the man in the middle and had to work overtime for everything we got. When Rammy was sent off with eight minutes to go we really dug in and raised our tempo.

"We kept out composure to score two more tries in the last five minutes and take the points.

"We have worked very hard over the last few weeks and now I feel we have reminded ourselves what we are capable of. If we can carry this sort on mentality into the play-offs we will be thereabouts come the final shake-up."