Keighley Cougars 32 London Skolars

Phil Stephenson's final match before retirement ended in disappointment after the Cougars threw away a massive lead to lose their last match of the season.

The one-club prop finished a 15-year career with Keighley yesterday and looked to be going out in style as he helped them build up an 18-0 lead.

Stevenson, 34, was at his forceful best, leading the charge to rack up the impressive advantage inside just 14 minutes against a London side who looked like they were still getting off the bus.

The hosts blew them away early on with Richard Knight (2) and Matt Foster grabbing tries and Barry Eaton booting all three goals.

But, as had been a common problem this season, Keighley couldn't last the pace and collapsed spectacularly.

London ran in six tries without response, a total of 34 unanswered points either side of the break, and, despite a late surge, Peter Roe's men couldn't claw their way back.

Keighley started the day joint bottom with London and Blackpool but knew victory against their basement rivals could catapult them as high as ninth above Hunslet. That would have been an improvement on last season's finish, to serve as revenge for their woeful loss in the capital in July and give Stephenson a perfect send-off, but it was not to be.

Player-coach Lathan Tawhai - a former Cougar - came off the bench to inspire London's fightback, the veteran scrum half being at the heart of their best moves.

Some weak tackling also let Cougars down as Richard Louw, Austin Aggrey, Dave Ellison and Frank Reid scored tries before the break, Tim Gee's three conversions giving London a 22-18 interval advantage.

After the restart, Aggrey, Reid, Ashley Tozer and Tawhai added further touchdowns as London's confidence rose.

Keighley kept in it with Foster, back from a knee injury, getting his second try after a great burst from sub Luke Sutton, and second-rower Knight completing a hat-trick.

Winger Sam Gardner also finished off well after a Stephenson off-load set Gavin Duffy and Foster away but time ran out.

Stephenson was presented with a glass tankard and hoisted around the field by his team-mates, Cougars avoiding the wooden spoon due to a better points difference than rock-bottom Blackpool.

After 343 games, he told the Cougar Park crowd: "It's been a very emotional day. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has cheered for me over the years and it's just a shame we ended like that.

"I've had a great time here at Keighley and I'll still be down next year to see you all about having a beer!"