Keighley Cougars 16 London Skolars 16

Heartbroken Cougars players sank to their knees in disbelief after seeing 12-men London Skolars snatch a draw in the last second today.

Barry Eaton's battling side looked on course for consecutive wins for the first time since their promotion-winning season of 2004.

They had bounced back from 15-4 down to sneak into a 16-15 lead but just as the game seemed sewn up, full back Gavin Duffy had possession ripped from his grasp 30 metres from his own line, giving Skolars one last chance.

Substitute Jamie Nowland coolly stepped up to boot the drop goal and the hooter sounded before Keighley even had chance to resume the game.

They had already looked beaten on the hour mark when Skolars were in charge courtesy of Corey Simms and Jake Kerr touchdowns, plus three goals and a drop kick from Nowland.

Referee Peter Taberner had also awarded a series of dubious penalties to further frustrate the hosts but they staged a brilliant response with two quickfire tries.

Eaton's high kick to the corner was palmed down by Richard Knight for Duffy to pick up and score on 64 minutes.

Eaton was hit late and high though by Alan Barker, sparking a mass brawl amid the celebrations with the London substitute eventually seeing red for his reckless challenge.

After the furore died down, Knight converted Duffy's try and was doing the same soon after when Keighley struck again in the set after the restart.

Another Eaton kick caused mayhem for the visitors and this time Knight benefited, after a great pass from impressive Australian prop Brendan Rawlins, to put his side in front.

But London - who hit back from 18-0 down to beat Keighley at Cougar Park on the final day of last season - mustered up one more play to leave the Cougars demoralised, although they gained two points for their efforts - one for the draw plus a bonus point.

The hosts should have made more of their domination in the first half when they controlled the game.

Powerful front-rowers Tom Palmer and Rawlins were too strong for the visitors and the mistake-free Cougars spent most of the half on the front foot.

However, they could only muster two Eaton penalties and led just 4-2.

* The Cougars travel to Gateshead in a re-arranged game next Sunday, meaning the scheduled trip to Barrow has been moved to Wednesday, June 13 (8pm).