Craig Murdock

Whitehaven 17, Cougars 4 - FLAGS were flying at half mast as the convoy of Cougar fans made their long return journey from Cumbria.

Hundreds made the trip up the M6 and shivered as a biting wind sliced through Whitehaven's Recreation Ground, but they were rewarded with their team's worst performance of the season.

Although Cougars could easily have snatched victory if a little luck had rolled their way, Steve Deakin's team showed none of the sparkle which has taken them towards the top of the table. The fact that they still hold on to second place is all down to Widnes pulling off a one-point victory over Dewsbury.

Despite travelling north on Saturday for an overnight stay, to make sure they did not have to shake off the effects of a long coach trip, the Keighley side looked like they were nursing weary limbs. Their minds had also lost the keen edge which has produced champagne performances by the bucketful this season.

They paid the penalty for a string of errors, which handed vital possession to the Warriors.

Substitute Chris Ross will also remember his first team debut - for all the wrong reasons. After coming on early in the second half following an injury to Daio Powell he lasted just seven minutes before referee R Silverwood pulled out the red card for a late tackle which left the home full back, Wesley Wilson, out cold. Ross had continued with his shoulder charge after Wilson passed the ball and the game was held up as he was delicately stretchered from the field and sent on his way to hospital where he was treated for concussion.

After a dour opening spell the freezing fans thought things were finally about to turn their way when Danny Seal stepped up a gear after 17 minutes.

He took the ball just inside his own half and raced 50 metres, shrugging off Wilson, to score a superb try, but Graeme Hallas could not make the conversion attempt.

Steve Kirkbride kicked a penalty, after Cougars were penalised for stealing the ball, to move the home side back to within two points. Jonathan Wignall secured a 6-4 half time lead with an unconverted try.

Although they failed to show any real flair in the opening period there would have been little to worry about in the Cougar dressing room during the break. They had been close to scoring several times and surely something would go their way.

Seal should have had a second when he finished off a slick move between Craig Murdock and Paul Harrison, but the linesman pulled them back for a dubious forward pass. Seconds later Jason Lee was a finger-tip away from scoring after Jason Ramshaw slid through a delicately weighted grubber kick.

In the second half they were twice denied by the shallow in-goal area at Whitehaven's compact ground. Both chances came from the boot of Ramshaw who produced some intelligent kicks throughout the afternoon, which were the highlight of the Cougar game.

Jamie Rushforth just failed to get a touch to the first on the left and Hallas was also denied in exactly the same spot moments later.

Craig Murdock, who performed solidly but showing real flair on his return to Cumbria, also had a try disallowed for offside after successfully chasing down another kick.

As Keighley continued to apply pressure Aaron Lester snatched the try which was to prove the killer blow. The ball bounced clear of a scrappy melee close to the Whitehaven line and although Phil Stephenson looked to have it smothered, Lester snapped up possession and raced the length of the field to score under the posts.

Kirkbride had no trouble tagging on the extra points, but even at 12-4 all the Cougars needed was one little piece of magic to put them back on track.

But the errors kept coming and the home side grew in confidence as they realised that a big scalp was within their grasp. They hammered the Keighley line with the kind of short, sharp, slick passes which Cougars usually use to inflict damage on opposition defences but this time they were on the receiving end.

Kiwi Leeroy Joe finally made the breakthrough with a kick which bounced back off the Cougar defence into the waiting arms of Ian Devlin. He didn't need a second invitation to dive in at the corner and Kirkbride added a drop goal late in the game to seal the victory.

After an impressive performance against Leigh Cougars played as if they expected an easy ride against the Cumbrian side and will have to show much more conviction in their Easter weekend double-header which starts with a home game against Swinton on Friday night followed by a trip to Hull KR on Monday afternoon.

Whitehaven: Wilson; Wignall, Seeds, Hill, O'Neill; Joe, Kirkbride; Cox, Lester, Vaughan. Miller, Devlin, G Purdham. Subs (all used): Kiddie, G Smith, P Sherwen, R Purdham.

Cougars: Rushforth; Horne, Powell, Hallas, Lee; K Smith, Murdock; Slicker, Ramshaw, Boothroyd, Harrison, Walker. Subs (all used): Sanchez, Ross, Leatham, Stephenson.