Cougar Academy 25, Wakefield Wildcats 42- COUGARS have reached the Academy play-offs after a top-class season which has seen them beat Super League teams - and even in defeat push the opposition all the way.

Now they are waiting to hear if they will play Huddersfield, Salford or Widnes in the first play-off match on September 6. "We have given them all good games in the league campaign and could yet spring a surprise in the play-offs," said team manager Jeremy Crowther.

They more than matched Super League opponents Wakefield Wildcats for 30 minutes in each half last weekend, but the 10 minutes before half time, and especially the 10 minutes before the final whistle proved their undoing.

Starting the much brighter side the Cougars took an early lead. A beautiful kick to the corner, was snapped up by Andy Feather who touched down, for Liam Duffy to add the conversion.

Perhaps elated by their early success the Cougars fatally relaxed and the Wildcats went in for a try, but failed with the conversion attempt.

The early setback spurred on the Keighley side and almost immediately they retaliated with a snap rob Weir try, which was again converted by Duffy, to extend the led to 12-4. Things got even better minutes later when the Wildcats' winger dropped a kick-through and Weir pounced on the loose ball to score in the corner. But while the Cougars were celebrating the referee consulted his lineman and Weir was ruled offside.

The decision proved to be the turning point of the first half, for although Weir added a drop goal Wakefield added 18 points to take a 22-13 lead into the break.

Not many in the ground were rating the chances of a comeback, but the opening period of the second half saw the young team at their best as they blasted back into the lead. Both Matty Steel and James Robinson raced in for tries with Duffy adding both conversions to secure a 25-22 lead.

The Cougars were so much on top at this stage it was a surprise when, awarded a penalty, they chose to kick for goal when a kick into the corner may have piled the pressure on the shaky Wakefield defence.

The kick was missed, but even more crucially the ball didn't go dead and Trinity forced themselves up field to score a vital try and regain a lead they never looked like losing.

The Academy youngsters had given their all and when Scott Bellamy was sin-binned for dissent the floodgates opened. Wakefield scored three tries in the last 10 minutes to give them a flattering victory.

The Cougars, again magnificently led by Matty Steel, saw great performances from Andy Feather, Rob Weir and the ever-willing Gary McLelland. Only the team's long injury list prevented them competing for a full 80 minutes, which proved crucial to the result.

Their last home league game of the season is against Featherstone Rovers on Saturday (kick-off 2.30). Their first play-off game will be on the weekend of September 6-7.