Keighley Cougars 35, Workington Town 6: The Cougars got back on track with a gritty if sometimes patchy performance against struggling Workington.

The Cumbrians have been struck by a stomach virus all week and were no match for a Keighley side whose sheer determination and commitment was going to make up for last week's disappointing defeat by Hunslet.

Keighley coach Gary Moorby was relieved that his side looked back to something like their best, saying: "I asked the lads to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in and although there is still room for improvement there was definitely more commitment.

"This was a good all round performance but one or two players deserve a mention. Richard Merville had a great game and gave us a great lift when he came on. Adam Mitchell just gave us that bit of spark when we'd gone a bit flat after the break and Matt Foster playing at full back is a great open field runner and definitely gave us more strike power."

The Cougars now go to Barrow next week and for once Moorby may well have selection problems.

Foster not only slotted in at full back for injured skipper James Rushforth, he also took over as captain.

Cougars started brightly with Dave Foster powering his way over in the third minute, Paul Ashton adding the conversion from the touchline.

They soon ran in a second try, Ollie Wilkes going over in the left-hand corner, this time Ashton failing with a conversion.

The Cougars were helped by Workington's indiscipline, a first half penalty count of 8-3 helping Keighley's cause no end and it wasn't long before they scored their third try, Foster coming into the line brilliantly to put Chris Wainwright over out wide for 14-0.

Helliwell added a fourth try and Ashton a drop goal to make it 19-0 at the break.

It took them until halfway through the second period to click back into gear. Mitchell scored a well-worked solo try which he duly converted to make it 25-0.

Workington did manage to break the Keighley defence once through Gareth Dean, Neil Alexander converting, but Matt Foster had the final say as he took a pass off Matt Firth to break through the Town defence and send Ian Sinfield racing over.

With the last play of the game the favour was returned and Foster was put through by Firth to score.

Cougars: M Foster; Smith, D Foster, Wainwright, Robinson, Ashton, Firth, Stephenson, Hoyle, Parkin, Wilkes, Sinfield, Ramshaw. Subs (all used); Mitchell, Helliwell, Durham, Merville.

Attendance: 844