Swinton Lions 12, Cougars 34 - A SECOND-HALF super show gave Cougars their third consecutive victory -- and battered the Lions into submission.

Slick handling and superior fitness took its toll on the Swinton side, and gave coach Karl Harrison the consistency he has been looking for all season.

His left wing was simply devastating with Jason Lee and Ian Hughes slicing through the home defence at will. The boys on the right also had golden opportunities to score. Craig Horne raced over for the opening try and should have added at least two more after the break, but Karl Smith twice chose to cut inside when a simple pass would have seen his wingman stroll over.

Five unanswered tries told the story of the second period, but Keighley did not have it all their own way. The first half was a tough but enthralling affair which saw Swinton's large pack finish just about on top.

Despite being 12-8 down Harrison didn't look too worried as he made his way to the dressing room, and his calmness proved to be well founded as the home forwards fell to pieces.

Martin Wood and Nathan Antonik pounced, directing rapier-like thrust after thrust into the Lions. On top of the five successful tries they also had three disallowed.

Wood was again superb at the heart of everything and was kicking with confidence, finishing with 14 points. He totally dominated play after the break, well supported by half back partner Antonik who had his best game of the season.

Dean Hanger also impressed at full back and looked dangerous every time he had the ball. When he was stretchered off in the 54th minute with medial ligament damage it was a major blow for Harrison who has to prepare his side for 13 games in April and May.

Wood landed a penalty in the second minute and added the extras after he and Karl Smith had combined to send Craig Horne over eight minutes later. Wood's touchline conversion gave Cougars an 8-0 lead, but Swinton gradually began to edge their way into the game.

Ian Watson pulled all the strings, creating openings which gave Swinton a fighting chance of winning the game. He was unlucky to have a try disallowed after Hanger lost his high kick, but he made amends two minutes later when, after chipping the Cougars defence, he sent Andy Craig racing diagonally to the corner.

Watson was there again to dart onto an inside pass from Jon O'Neill and dive under the posts, leaving himself with an easy conversion to take a 12-8 lead.

Cougars briefly threatened with Hanger making inroads, but the best chance was lost when Paul Harrison's break was ruined by referee Steve Ganson who got in the way of his pass to Karl Harrison who had a clear run to the line.

Despite being 12-8 down at the break Keighley's ability to get the ball wide quickly, always looked likely to pay off.

Within four minutes of the re-start Cougars were level. A delayed pass from Wood saw Ian Hughes crash over out wide. The conversion attempt was one of only two kicks Wood missed all afternoon.

Seven minutes later a big break from Phil Stephenson - who terrorised the Swinton defence - set up position for the ball to be moved left again. This time Hughes turned provider, sending Jason Lee over in the corner to make it 16-12.

Swinton lost the ball on their 10-metre line and from the scrum Nathan Antonik jinked past two defenders for a try under the posts, Wood converted.

The Cougars were now rampant.

Antonik lost the ball over the line just before a great 60-metre break by Paul Owen set up the next try. Antonik was again the key player, he took the ball to the line and Paul Harrison drew the cover before releasing Wood who dived over before adding the goal.

The Cougars hadn't finished yet, both Horne and Lee had tries disallowed before Antonik and Wood combined yet again and Wood's pass sent Ben Thompson over. Wood's fifth conversion completed the scoring, and sealed the game.

A fourth win on the trot looks likely against Rochdale on Sunday at Cougar Park, which will set the team up for the trip to Widnes. That game will provide a good opportunity to judge just how much the Cougars have really improved in the last month.

Swinton Lions: P Barrow; Nanyn, Bateman (Gartland 27), Loughlin, Billy; Crag, Watson; Neill (T Barrow (49), Highton, Pickavance (Knowles 20), Coley, Smith (Randall 56), Casey.

Cougars: Hanger (Owen 53); Horne, K Smith, R Smith, Lee; Pickles (Walker 11), Antonik; Hall, Seal, Boothroyd (Stephenson 30), Harrison, Hughes, Wood.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.