KARL SMITH was crowned a Cougar hero after twisting his way to the last second try which brought victory for Steve Deakin's wonder-team on Sunday.

The local boy had been quiet throughout much of the game, but popped up when it mattered most to steal the limelight in a drama worthy of Shakespeare himself. Hunslet thought they had the game won when Smith delivered the final rapier-like thrust which turned the afternoon into a tragedy for the young Leeds team, but sent the Cougar fans home with a grin a mile wide.

"You would have thought we had won the Challenge cup after I scored - the fans were fantastic," Smith said.

It was a victory which should not have been. Throughout the previous week Deakin had seen player-after-player walk away from his team until he was left with such a skeleton staff that he didn't know where his players were coming from.

But his new boys played with tremendous heart and immediately won the support of the band of die hard fans. Many who had been enjoying the run which had taken their side to second spot in the Northern Ford Premiership must have decided the patched up team were no-hopers, and stayed away.

They missed a game which will live in the memory of everyone of the fans who lifted the team to victory. For years they will be able to say with pride: "I was there."

Scenes of sheer jubilation have been missing at Cougar Park in recent years, but this time the fans went crazy after being rewarded by Smith's late, late show.

Trailing 24-22 into the second minute of injury time Smith couldn't have chosen his moment better. Jason Ramshaw slipped through an optimistic grubber kick which bobbed and bobbled and bounced high over Smith's head on it's way to the touchline.

The No4 snatched the ball out of the air, twisted out of a tackle and dropped over the line for the match-winning touchdown.

It was an epic finale to an epic encounter.

Hunslet thought the game was in the bag. They had trailed 20-10 after an incredible Cougar purple patch, but with the home side visibly tiring they mounted a superb fight back. Tries from Anthony Howcroft and Gareth Naylor made it 20-18, but a penalty from Paul Ashton kept the Cougars narrowly in front.

Three minutes from time Naylor raced in for his second which Cougar old boy Craig Robinson converted to make it 24-22.

It looked like Deakin's boys had put in a tremendous effort but just been pipped at the post. Pride and passion enabled them to summon up the energy for one last desperate attack. They were urged every painful yard upfield and the scenes as the final hooter sounded equalled anything in the heyday of Cougarmania.

Deakin signed two players just an hour before kick-off with Silsden's Johnny Williams and Chris Hogg of Keighley Albion heading the call to help their local team -- and they both made very positive contributions.

Hunslet started odds-on favoutires and looked full value when they raced into a 10-point lead.

George Raynor raced 80 metres upfield after collecting a sloppy Cougar pass to start the scoring. Anthony Howcroft went over for his first with alarming ease in the 19th minute, Robinson's conversion making it 10-0.

But the Keighley side visibly grew in confidence led superbly by Ramshaw and man of the match Phil Stephenson.

Stepho's burst up the middle paved the way for the first Cougar try. He was stopped by another Albion man, Craig Morphet, but had set the home team on their way with James Simeonovich sending Gareth Hooson over in the 22nd minute.

Four minutes later Ramshaw worked his magic with a great dummy which opened the gap for him to dart over. Mark Holker converted to level the scores.

It stayed that way until half time, although the Cougars were unlucky to have a third disallowed, Hogg racing over after Gareth Hobson had collected a Ramshaw kick, the young winger unlucky to be ruled offside.

The second half soon saw the Cougars regain their momentum, and again Ramshaw and Stephenson led the charge.

Ramshaw put in two brilliant 40-20 kicks with the first setting up Simeonovich to put Hooson over again.

Stephenson then slipped a short quick pass to debutant Paul Ashton and the tiny Rochdale half-back raced into a huge gap on half way and no-one was going to stop him. Holker converted to make it 20-10 but with most of the Cougars dead on their feet Hunslet always looked dangerous.

They fought back brilliantly but it was Smith's final touch which took the honours.

Much of the credit for the victory must go to Deakin and Paul Moses who worked all week to make sure there was a team at all. But it was one thing putting a team out, their motivational skills were also superb and this new-look Cougar side really could put the passion back into the local rugby league scene.

Cougars: Chris Kirk; Gareth Hobson, Gareth Hooson, Karl Smith, Max Tomlinson (60 J Best), Mark Holker (66 Williams), Paul Ashton, Phil Stephenson (65 Hannah), Jason Ramshaw, Chris Hannah (55Taylor), Jeff Simeonovich, David Best (Tomlinson), Johnny Williams (26 Hogg). Subs: Jason Best, Martin Taylor, Lee Bowyer, Chris Hogg.

Hunslet: Raynor; Heywood, Higgins, Wainwright, Munton, Coleman, Craig Robinson, Banks (23 Thompson bb), Howcroft, Craig Morphet (59 Atha), Coyle (23 Jessey bb, 52 Coyle), Ibbotson (55 Banks, 72 Ibbotson), Addams (46 Naylor bb). Subs: Thompson, Jessey, Atha, Naylor.