Cougars 22, Swinto 28 - Cougars suffered their third successive defeat, and look a shadow of the team that was challenging for the NFP title just three weeks ago. Swinton offered just good honest endeavour, and such was their spirit that twice they came from behind.

They signalled their intent right from the word go. A great kick from Phil Waring was collected by Andy Cheetham who sent skipper Paul Smith racing over. Mick Nanyn landed the first of his four conversions.

Cougars looked anxious, but settled their nerves with two quick tries. Jason Lee scooped up a bouncing Craig Murdock pass to dart in at the corner in the fifth minute, and a lovely kick from Jason Ramshaw was pounced on by Chris Robinson. This time Lee converted.

Cougars should have kicked up a gear, but they lacked fluency and at times lacked organisation. Swinton gradually applied pressure and took an 18-10 half time lead with two cracking long range tries.

Waring put Smith through on half way, he drew James Rushworth to send Phil Cushion racing over. From the re-start tiny teenage full back Wayne English collected and raced 80 metres round the defence before sending Cheetham racing clear.

Whatever Steve Deakin said to his Cougar troops at the break clearly had an effect, but all too briefly. They enjoyed their best spell of the game and looked like a class outfit for fifteen minutes.

Graeme Hallas played a skippers part collecting a loose Lions pass to race in from 65 metres. Then a lovely long pass from Ramshaw saw Jim Leatham step inside two defenders to touch down.

Lee added both conversions and again Keighley should have kicked on for victory.

They may well have done had Lee not had a try disallowed for a forward pass from Rushforth.

But by then they were trailing again and deep in trouble. Ramshaw had limped off, Hallas had been sin-binned for holding Nanyn down and from the resultant penalty former Keighley favourite Lee Hansen had put Matt Bateman in. Nanyn's thirty metre charge had set up the try, and his towering touchline conversion restored the Lions lead at 24-22.

Other than the Lee chance Keighley struggled to create game winning field position, and Swinton made sure of a well deserved victory, and vital late possession, with two Waring field goals in the last six minutes.

Cougars: Rushforth; Horn, Hooson, Hallas, Lee; Murdock, Robinson; Slicker, Ramshaw, Boothroyd, Harrison, Leatham, Seale. Subs (all used): M Walker, Smith, Stephenson, J Walker.

Swinton: English, Bateman, Nanyn, Cheetham, Evans; Waring, Furey; Doherty, Barraclough, Hansen, Cushion, Napolitano, Smith. Subs (all used) Butler, Newall, Mead, Holstock.