Cougars 66, Swinton Lions 12 - COUGARS completed their league campaign in style - running in 12 tries - to win the battle of the big cats.

The stylish victory was a stunning climax to the best league season since the golden days of 1995 when they won the Second Division and Premiership titles. Steve Pickles' final try took the club to 1,000 points for the season -- by far the best attacking record in the Northern Ford Premiership.

Their total of 401 points against is also just four points more than Doncaster who have the best defensive record.

Coach Karl Harrison has done an impressive job building an almost completely new team on very limited resources. As a first year coach he couldn't have wished for a better season.

Now for the Premierships, and after the RFL ruling this week that Dewsbury and Leigh won't be allowed into Super League, it virtually means that the top eight play-offs can only bring pride to the winners, and joy to their fans.

On the evidence of this game the Cougars still have work to do off the pitch. A crowd of just over 1,600 was disappointing and if next week's game is anything less than 3,000 then something is seriously .

But on the field they were superb, particularly in the second half when they ran in 46 points with a display of some of the best attacking support play you will ever see.

Danny Seal is a class player, he has been one of Harrison's best signings, and his hat-trick with two coming soon after the break, really set the scene. After scoring his third try he was replaced by Pickles who added a hat-trick of his own in the final 10 minutes.

But after the first 20 minutes no one would have predicted the monster scoreline. Cougar committed error after error allowing Swinton to open the scoring, Richard Henare slicing through the defence.

But the Keighley side gradually got on top led superbly by Martin Wood whose kicking game set up the first two tries. One huge 40-20 kick set things up for Danny Seal to dive over.

Jason Ramshaw followed up, pouncing on Wood's grubber kick. Woody added both conversions and from that moment there was only one team in it.

Karl Smith sent Nathan Antonik on a run down the blind side for the third try and an Ian Hughes break set up Jason Lee to dive in at the corner.

With a 20-6 lead at the break the stage was set for the second half blitz.

Seal finished off a Phil Stephenson break before Wood sent Hughes over. James Rushforth again impressed on attack and set up Seal for his hat-trick. A fine break from the fullback saw him halted on the line and Seal, who is always backing up, was first to the ball.

Cougar held a 38-6 lead, but their try-romp was rudely interrupted by a second Swinton try, Smith going over and Watson converting.

The Cougar machine soon recovered its momentum with Graeme Hallas scorching down the left. Ramshaw dived over from close range and it felt like party time. Steve Pickles hat-trick was certainly the icing on a very appetising cake with the first the tastiest of all.

He finished off a sparkling five-man move with Rushforth and Ramshaw finally combining to send Pickles over.

He followed up with a try after good work by Antonik and Wood, but the crucial 1,000-point try came off another superb Danny Seal break. Wood's final goal was purely academic but added the final flourish to an impressive afternoon.

They now go into the play-offs in second place full of confidence, but knowing they are going to have to be at their best if they are going to beat Doncaster on Sunday.

Cougars: Rushforth; Horne, Smith, Hallas, Lee; Seal, Antonik; Slicker, RAmshaw, Boothroyd, Harrison, Hughes, Wood. Subs (allused): Walker, Lord, Stephenson, Pickles.

Swinton Lions: English; Henare, Cousins, Nanyn, Billy; Craig, Watson; Neill, Furey, Pickavance, Smith, Cushion, Casey. Subs (all used): Loughlin, T Barrow, P Barrow, Roach.