Cougars 52, Gateshead 6 - COUGARS ran in 10 tries to completely demolish a young Gateshead side -- and they could have scored almost twice as many.

The Keighley side ran riot in the first half, but rather than leading by 40 or more points their lead was limited to 22-6.

The second half was a different story as they were led superbly by the old master, Jason Ramshaw. They completely demolished the Geordie boys with six tries straight out of the top drawer.

Both teams started badly, turning the ball over in their eagerness to start scoring. Gateshead broke the early deadlock when the Cougars were caught offside in the ninth minute and Paul Thorman landed the penalty.

That seemed to focus the minds of the Cougar side who scored off their next set of six tackles, Adam Mitchell working a run-around move with Ian Sinfield to race in at the corner. He looked to have been tackled, but reached out backwards to score as he was dragged over the line.

Gateshead had survived for 12 minutes, but Mitchell's try signalled the start of the onslaught. Two tries quickly followed with Matty Firth sending Matt Foster on a 30m diagonal run to the posts for the first. After Mitchell was halted on the line going for his second, Simeon Hoyle slipped through from acting half.

Mitchell landed both goals and suddenly the Cougars led 16-2. A fourth try followed in the 32nd minute with Firth dummying his way over for the first of his hat-trick and Mitchell converted.

Gateshead found just one chink in another impressive Keighley defensive display when Adam Thornton went through three defenders just before the break to make it 22-6 at half time.

The second half was very professional with Ramshaw leading the way. His standing in the team and the respect the players around him have for him is awesome as was demonstrated when he scored the opening try of the second half.

He outrageously dummied left then right as he ghosted in from 30 metres and in celebration lined his teammates up for a pre-arranged celebration 'photo' with Ramshaw using the ball as a camera. It may sound contrived but was just the kind of magic moment the fans love to see -- it was just a shame there weren't more there to see it.

Five more tries followed at regular intervals as Ramshaw orchestrated things. His grubber kick was pounced on by Firth for his second just before Hoyle scored the try of the game.

Phil Stephenson started it off when he slipped a pass to Lee Patterson on his own '35' and Patterson broke away before sending Paul Ashton clear. He was caught by Neil Thorman but had the composure to send an overhead pass to Hoyle who raced away. Ashton converted and then landed a second after Ramshaw went in untouched off Danny Ekis to make it 44-6, and at this point the Cougars looked unstoppable.

They bagged another two tries, Firth going on to complete his hat-trick with a run from the base of the scrum, and as the seconds ticked down Ramshaw's one-handed pass put his old mate Matt Foster over for his second try, the hooter sounding as Ashton's conversion attempt drifted wide.

Firth now has 15 tries for the season and Foster in impressive nine in nine games and he will be relishing the trip to Sheffield on Sunday. He looks back at his best and will be keen to show the Eagles just what they are missing.