TEAM captain James Rushforth missed Wednesday night's clash with Doncaster because he didn't want to risk an injury before his wedding day.

The Cougar full back is getting married on Saturday and didn't want to risk having a black eye on his wedding pictures.

"He would have played if the outcome would have had an effect on our play-off position, but as it won't have any effect he decided not to take any risks," said coach Gary Moorby.

Cougars will have a place in the end-of season play-off for 10th place in Division One of the new-look Northern Ford Premiership.

Division Two will be made up of the last eight clubs, with York and London Skolars also joining the 10-club division.

Moorby was delighted with a gutsy performance angainst Doncaster, but disappointed that second half errors cost them a win.

"It was another tremendous effort from the boys, but we failed to control the ball in the second half by trying to force things instead of remaining patient and concentrating on completing the sets.

"Nobody could knock our enthusiasm but once again our lack of experience showed, Doncaster capitalised on a little bit of luck when their attemped drop goal bounced back off the crossbar to clinched the winning try. I suppose we can take something out of the close scoreline after they put 50 past us in the Buddies Cup.

"It is another indication of the progress we have made, but I think we will look back on this one as a game we should have won," he said.