Featherstone Rovers 44 Keighley Cougars 0

Keighley Cougars suffered their second shut-out in successive matches as fatigue took its toll against Featherstone at Lionheart Stadium yesterday.

The energy-draining efforts of the Trans Pennine Cup Final four days earlier clearly showed as Steve Deakin's battlers were put to the sword by Rovers.

When the two sides last met in January, Cougars were roaring along with a 100 per cent record.

But Featherstone stuck a spanner in the works that day with a 22-22 draw, and edged further ahead in the Northern Ford Premiership play-off chase in the most emphatic manner yesterday.

Unlike war-weary Cougars, Rovers had enjoyed a fortnight's rest and it showed as they rattled up seven tries in a 40-minute spell either side of the break.

Stand-off Andy Bastow was the chief destroyer as he laid on four of them while half-back partner Jamie Roonie landed five goals. Michael Rhodes scored two tries as the fourth-placed side claimed their ninth win in 11 matches.

For Cougars, it was a fourth defeat in six although they made the better start and Paul Ashton should have done better when Jason Ramshaw kicked ahead over the try line, but the stand-off failed to gather.

On a bone-hard surface, most of which was devoid of grass, the Cougars pack was under pressure throughout.

Phil Stephenson worked his socks off but the influential Rob Roberts enjoyed little success.

It took Rovers 15 minutes to break the deadlock before Bastow's bullet pass sent Matt Bramald through a small gap.

Six minutes later Cougars were in further trouble from a penalty when home playmaker Richard Chapman released Simon Jackson from close in.

Chapman danced his way in for try number three and then substitute Neil Lowe, with his first touch, produced a super pass to Rhodes who steamed in from halfway.

Bastow sent Gavin Morgan charging over and Rooney's third goal made it 26-0 and game over at half-time.

Cougars were already tiring and it was little surprise when Featherstone further stamped their authority on proceedings.

Rooney was the provider for Paul Darley to cross and then Rhodes notched his second from Bastow's pass.

Cougars tried to break their duck and Max Tomlinson twice saw efforts disallowed. But with two minutes left, Rovers claimed their eighth try through Lowe.

With four games to go, Cougars are still hanging on to a play-off ticket but wins for Hull KR, Workington and Whitehaven yesterday have shaken up the picture.