Keighley Cougars 28, Barrow Raiders 15: This was a tough encounter for the Cougars but four tries in 19 minutes towards the end of the first half ensured their sixth successive victory and keeps them firmly at the top of National League Two.

Barrow's intention was clearly to spoil the Cougars' flowing game and they certainly managed to do that for 60 of the 80 minutes. Keighley had the quality though to step up a gear and those four tries effectively sealed the result.

"We knew that they would be tough opposition and they are a typical Cumbrian side: big, strong and they came to keep us off the ball," said coach Gary Moorby.

"They did that in the second half but I thought we contained them well and took our chances when they were there. I was a little bit disappointed that we let them in late on but you've got to say five tries to two is a pretty convincing victory."

Inspired by Kiwi stand off Tane Manihera Barrow started strongly and took an early 3-0 lead when he landed an early penalty followed by a quick field goal.

Their coach Cameron Bell had clearly watched Keighley on tape and for 20 minutes their game-plan of containing the Cougars around the ruck and keeping them off the ball was clearly working. However, the word got out from the Keighley bench to get the ball wide quickly and it worked a treat.

Three tries in ten minutes completely turned the game on its head. Jason Ramshaw put Matt Foster away down the left and his inside pass found Ollie Wilkes who raced in from 35 metres out.

In the 25th minute the ball went to the right for Dave Foster to power over, but the try of the game came straight from the kick-off when Wilkes sent powerhouse winger Andy Robinson racing 70 metres up the left wing to touch down in the corner.

That made it 16-3 and a fourth try just before the break when Matt Firth followed up a dinked kick from Ramshaw to give Keighley a 22-3 margin - Adam Mitchell landing three of the four conversions.

Again Barrow started strongly and Manihera set up a try for Jamie Smith, which the stand off then converted. After that it was a dour contest in the forwards with Barrow probably just winning the battle.

The down side for Keighley was the loss of Ramshaw after a late hit by Tau Liku.

The Cougars lost their shape a little but still managed a fifth try in the 71st minute, substitute Chris Wainwright accelerating through the smallest of gaps to confirm the victory.

Manihera created another try for Smith two minutes from time to narrow the final margin.

The Cougars now have a couple of weeks to recover after this bruising encounter before they face Gateshead at Cougar Park on June 15.

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

Attendance: 1,106

KEITH REEVES