Keighley Cougars' new youth policy is already starting to reap rewards with three Academy youngsters being offered two-year professional contracts with the club.

Prop Scott Bellamy, stand-off half Andy Feather and second row Alistair Beaumont, all 17, have been rewarded for their outstanding performances for the Academy side this year.

"These lads have shown great potential this season and we feel they have the makings of future first team players," said coach Gary Moorby.

"All are local youngsters and they will hopefully be the first of many signings from our development programme.

"We have some very good young players here and the future looks very bright indeed."

Moorby has also managed to secure three more senior players on new 12-month contract with Chris Hannah, pictured, Lee Kelly and Lee Patterson the latest to put pen to paper.

"Negotiations are going on at the moment, but I am very hopeful that the majority of this season's squad will be signing," added Moorby.

He also revealed the club is making an offer to turn pro to BARLA international Under-23 winger Oliver Fairbank. The 23-year-old nephew of former Bradford regular Karl Fairbank has impressed on his Northern Ford Premiership outings while on loan with the Cougars.

Moorby has a fully-fit squad to pick from for the final league fixture of the season at Oldham on Sunday with James Rushforth back from honeymoon.

The Rugby League have come down heavily on Doncaster's Peter Edwards who was found guilty of 'a vicious punch from behind' on Cougars' Phil Stephenson during the match on August 25. He has been banned for three matches and fined £75.

But the League decided to take no further action against Dragons captain Maea David or Stephenson, who were sin-binned at the time, even though David appeared to be the instigator of the incident.

Referees controller Stuart Cummings said: "It was decided to make the sin-binning sufficient punishment."

And responding to criticisam of refereeing standards in the Keighley News last week, Cummings added: "I think it is grossly unfair to make a judgement just from this one incident.

"I have been working hard with match officials development officer Geoff Berry to improve the standard of refereeing over the last few years and a significant number of new referees have been coming into the game.

"We have shown the game is not going to stand for this sort of action on the field and punished the offenders accordingly."

A slightly-jaded Academy side showed the effects of a long season as they were beaten 34-8 at Dewsbury in their final match. David Armitage scored a fine try and Beaumont converted and added a penalty.

The Academy side hold their presentation night at Cougar Park tonight (8pm). All are welcome to attend.

Keighley Independent Supporters Association are running a coach to Oldham on Sunday, departing from the Victoria Hotel in Cavendish Street at 12.30pm. Cost is between £8 and £10, according to numbers.

l A fund-raising event in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association is being held at Walkabout, Glydegate Square, Morley Street, Bradford, on Monday (7pm). Several Bradford Bulls players will be present at the event, in support of former union player Jarrod Cunningham, who was recently diagnosed as having the disease. Entry is free and all are welcome.