Cougars 22, Dewsbury Rams 6 - KARL HARRISON looked to have discovered a magic formula -- transforming his side into Supermen as they smashed the league leaders.

They left Dewsbury's unbeaten run in tatters, slicing through the Rams defence and pounding their attack to a standstill.

Dewsbury's winning run started after they were held to a 24-24 draw by the Cougars in July last year, and it ended with Richard Smith snapping up a pin-point pass from Ian Hughes to dive over and complete the Keighley rampage.

It was a night the Cougar fans had waited a long time to see. A night when all the individual glimpses of promise came together in a match which flowed with the artful beauty of a carefully choreographed Russain ballet.

After enduring several seasons of hit-and-miss performances this was a game they didn't want to end.

Suddenly the Cougar Park atmosphere rolled back to the good old days of the mid-nineties.

Their team looked capable of beating anybody outside Superleague. Another two or three performances like this and it really could be Cougarmania all over again.

Rugby League doesn't get much better. Although the Cougars led 8-6 at the break the game still hung in the balance. Both sides had backed robust forward play with some great open football and magnificent defence. But the Cougar pack gradually saw off the Rams, giving the inspirational Jason Ramshaw, Martin Wood and Nathan Antonik the space they needed to force open the Dewsbury defence.

They outscored the Rams five tries to one, and three of those came in that second half when the Cougars looked fitter, faster and more creative against the league leaders.

Cougars have now beaten both last year's Premiership finalists and that should serve notice of a serious league campaign if they can find the consistency that Harrison is demanding.

They certainly served notice on the Rams, scoring after just 88 seconds. Dewsbury lost the ball on their '40' and two Cougar plays later a great pass from Wood put Richard Smith into space and his pass sent Jason Lee over.

Dewsbury came back and after a couple of Ram raids were repelled they took the lead.

Smith pulled off a great try saving tackle on opposite number Dan Potter but it was in vain as the Rams worked the ball wide, Matthew Long's pass sending Nathan Graham scurrying over. Barry Eaton converted and Dewsbury led 6-4.

With defences dominating it was hard to see where the next try would come from. Keighley came up with an almost carbon copy of the Dewsbury touchdown, Paul Owen going close then Paul Harrison off-loading to Antonik who dived under two tacklers to give the Cougars a vital psychological half time lead.

They hit Dewsbury hard from the restart. A deep incursion by the pack finished with a long Ramshaw pass sending James Rushforth stretching to the line.

Ten minutes later Dewsbury lost playmaker Richard Agar, and the game finally turned Cougars way with their fourth and best try of the game.

Antonik held the ball up just long enough to find a gap for Harrison, he drew Graham before sending Pickles in for his fourth try of the season. This time Wood converted.

At 18-6 the Cougars looked to have the game in the bag. They survived one scare, Graham's 'try' disallowed for a forward pass. Alex Godfrey went close a couple of times but the wide defence -- so weak recently -- held firm against the Rams flyer.

Eight minutes from time Smith finally wrapped the game up to seal his best game in a Cougar shirt diving over to seal an impressive victory.

Both teams had a player sent to the sin-bin by impressive referee Robert Connolly. Phil Stephenson went for a professional foul as he slowed down a Rams breakout in the 65th minute and 10 minutes later, as Keighley looked certain to score a sixth try, Damian Ball was dismissed for holding Antonik as he supported a great 50-metre break by Owen. A try then would have been the icing on the cake.

Ramshaw got the man of the match award with a vintage performance, his defence was awesome at times, and on the ball he compliments Wood perfectly.

He put in a brilliant 40/20 kick just before the break and was unlucky not to score late on but couldn't hold Rushforth's pass. As for the rest it was hard to single out individuals from a great team performance -- let the good times roll.

Cougars: Owen: Horne, rushforth, R Smith, Lee; Pickles, Antonick; Slicker, Ramshaw, Boothroyd, Harrison, Hughes, Wood. Subs: (all used) Robinson, Hall, Stephenson, thompson.

Dewsbury Rams: Graham; Godfrey, O'Meara, Potter, Flynn; Agar, Eaton; Long, Dyson, Hicks, Richardson, Kershaw, ball. Subs (all used) Baker, Talbot, Spink, Jowitt.

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