COUGARS finally had too great a mountain to climb but their fans rode an emotional roller-coaster after a never-say-die second half took them within a whisker of making play-off progress.

Featherstone knew they'd been in a game for all their Indian sign over the Cougars who have won just once in the last 10 meetings with Rovers. Last time out only five weeks back, Keighley were stuffed 42-0 at Featherstone.

"It was an outstanding effort by our players," said coach Steve Deakin. "But we gave ourselves a bit too deep a hole to get out of."

Ex-Cougar coach Peter Roe, now in charge at Rovers, was pleased his side had 'toughed it out' and shown a lot of spirit in defence.

It was entertaining, edge of seat stuff as Cougars first seemed way off the pace.

And then how they put the frighteners on Featherstone by cutting the gap to four points and setting up a grandstand finale.

But it was Rovers, inspired by skipper Jamie Rooney, who hung on to victory, earning a trip to Leigh on Sunday as the Grand Final series gets underway.

Cougars' undoing came in the first period with some poor ball control. They trailed then by 22-8 after tries by Rooney (2), Gavin Swinson and Chris Spurr with Rooney goaling three efforts.

Keighley's only points came when Robbie Roberts forced his way over on 24 minutes with Paul Ashton kicking the second of four goals.

Said Deakin: "Our completion rate in the opening 40 minutes was only 35 per cent and we had said pre-game that we needed it to be around 70 or 75 per cent if we were to be in with a shout.

"We lacked a bit of ball control in the first half and we paid for it. Our commitment and execution improved dramatically in the second half."

Within a minute of the restart Ashton had finished off a 45-yards sprint to the line to score from Adam Hayes' pass. It put a spring in Cougars' steps.

Featherstone looked to have clinched it on the hour when Richard Chapman went over from acting half to score what ultimately did prove the killer, especially when Rooney tagged on the two points.

But showing the sort of spirit that's been in bagfuls in these troubled financial times for the club, Cougars bounced back from 28-12 down well inside the last quarter. Featherstone were left to hang on grimly to a win.

Late tries from the inspirational Jason Ramshaw and a second for Roberts, plus two further Ashton goals, made for a thrilling last few minutes in the appropriately-named Lionheart stadium.

Said Deakin: "We gave it our best shot and you couldn't ask for more.

"I got a couple of reports we had about four minutes left and told the players to create a last-play kick. Unfortunately it was only about a minute to go and we didn't have the time.

"But we gave our magnificent fans something to cheer."

You certainly did that!