Huddersfield Giants 15 Cougar Academy 12 - Cougars came within a whisker of pulling off a superb victory over Super League competition - despite suffering a devastating blow.

Just before setting off for the game team members heard that stalwart Alistair Beaumont had been very badly injured in a car crash the previous evening. To their credit the team, already without Andy Feather (ill), and Tom Holland (injured) put in a terrific performance and looked to have won the game in the last minute when Jason Fisher dived over to touch down a superb Matt Steel (pictured) kick.

To everyone's dismay the referee disallowed the try and Huddersfield breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Cougars took an early lead with a superb Gary McLelland try, converted by Peter Hilliam, but while they were still celebrating the Giants punished the Cougars with a try under the posts. The score remained 6-6 until half time, but the Cougars were denied a try when McLelland was held up over the line just before the break, although it looked good to everyone except the referee.

The Cougars came out in determined mood in the second half and were rewarded with a Tobias Williams try and a further penalty by Peter Hilliam to lead 12-6.

But already the Giants could seethe young Cougars were tiring and applied tremendous pressure to the Keighley line. The turning point came when full back Adam Webster was sinbinned for lying on. While he was off the pitch the Giants scored two tries and a drop goal took their lead to 15-12.

The Academy, again well led by Matt Steel and Scott Bellamy looked to have got their reward when Fisher dived over in the last minute, but were cruelly denied.

However, if they can maintain this level of performance the elusive win must come.

Tomorrow (Saturday) they are away to London Broncos with a 2.30kick-off. The Academy Division One includes Huddersfield Giants, London Broncos, Featherstone Rovers, Salford , Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings, Wakefield Trinity.