Cougars 26, Oldham 18

Classy Cougars pulled off a stunning performance to knock over another National League Two big gun.

Having toppled high-flying Workington in their last home fixture, Barry Eaton's men today ditched promotion-chasing Oldham, a side who had only previously lost to leaders Featherstone all season.

Richard Knight was again the star of the show, bagging a personal haul of 20 points courtesy of two tries and six goals as Cougars battled back from ten points down to get only their third win of the campaign.

But the hosts were also well led from the front by industrious props Luke Sutton and man-of-the-match Simon Bissell as they met a physical and experienced Oldham side head on.

Following a highly determined and enthusiastic triumph, Eaton said: "They've been on a fantastic run but we've showed again we're capable of matching the so-called bigger teams.

"I'm hoping our younger guys have matured over these last two home games and we can now really kick on, transferring this sort of form into our away matches.

"Our completion rate was about 80 per cent again and that put us in the driving seat."

The game nearly didn't start at all as the Cougars team doctor was not present at kick-off, causing a ten-minute delay.

A message had to be sent out over the tannoy to see if there was any doctor in the crowd and fortunately an off-duty doctor from Bradford Royal Infirmary came to the rescue.

However, Keighley went behind early on as Neil Roden sliced through for a try converted by former Cougar Paul Ashton.

The home side responded with Knight's first penalty and then Brian Sutton crossed after Oldham spilled near their own line.

Winger Craig Littler was sin-binned for a late charge on Craig Weston after the Cougars stand-off had kicked downfield, presenting Knight with another simple two points.

Aussie prop Brendan Rawlins produced a massive hit on Oldham substitute Adam Robinson that demonstrated the sheer enthusiasm the pumped-up Cougars possessed, Roden and Keighley skipper Craig Fawcett later sent to the sin-bin following a bust-up between that pair.

It was 12 versus 11 at one point but, when Oldham were back to a full complement, they regained the lead with a try from loose forward Ian Hodson on 35 minutes, Ashton's conversion putting them 12-8 up at the break.

Robinson barged over soon after the restart, with Ashton improving to give the visitors a healthy lead, but Eaton's side did not panic and Knight began the fightback with his first try on 51 minutes, shrugging off some weak tackling to go over from 30 metres.

Oldham second-rower Ian Sinfield was put on report for a high shot on Bissell as the physical nature of the contest continued but the Cougars did not let their discipline drop.

From the penalty, they poured forward and Fawcett finished with a perfect grubber to the corner that Sam Gardner expertly picked up to dive over.

Knight failed with the kick, leaving the game level at 18-18, but he was on hand to get his all-important second try in the 68th minute.

Gardner had come to the rescue to deny former Bulls prop Tony Tonks a try at the other end before slick build-up play from Weston, Chris Redfearn and Wayne Sutcliffe sent the second-rower over.

He converted and added a penalty to seal the success for Cougars, who remarkably were without four injured backs, Academy product Oliver Pursglove making his debut.