Keighley Cougars 38 Rochdale Hornets 23

 Jason Demetriou’s biggest problem yesterday was finding a superlative to do justice to his players.

He need not have bothered.

In running seven tries past Rochdale to move within 80 minutes of promotion to the Championship, the Cougars said everything about the talent and desire within their ranks.

The pressure was on player-coach Demetriou and his men after last week’s defeat to Workington, a result which sent the Cumbrians straight through to the Grand Final in Warrington on Sunday.

The Cougars got a second bite at the cherry today.

They took it in some style, overturning a 16-8 interval deficit to ultimately run out emphatic victors.

Demetriou, a class apart at this level even at the age of 35, was pivotal throughout and could now cap his debut season at Cougar Park with a dream promotion.

“We were pretty dominant throughout the game,” said the former Wakefield favourite, beaming with pride.

“We just had to be a bit smarter and not make silly errors like forward passes, but it was all about timing.

“When we use the ball and hold our shape, we’re the best team in the competition bar none.”

That will be put to the test on Sunday at the Halliwell Jones Stadium but there were enough signs here to suggest that Workington can be beaten.

The Cougars won the physical battle up front today and had enough skill and finishing power within their backline to overpower their visitors.

Andy Saywell touched down to put Rochdale ahead against the run of play in the 15th minute and Wayne English added a second shortly after the half-hour mark.

Both tries were converted by Paul Crook but the Cougars steadied themselves and hit back for a crucial score shortly before the break when Demetriou found Jy-Mel Coleman and he sent Ben Sagar over in the right corner.

Lawton added the extras to halve Rochdale’s lead before the Cougars upped the tempo after the restart with two tries in four minutes.

First Sagar went over for his second and then Danny Lawton crossed to tie the scores at 16-16.

Rochdale hit back in the 54th minute when Steve McDermott scampered clear but shortly before the hour mark the Cougars responded again when Gavin Duffy raced through for a try which Lawton converted.

A drop goal from Crook edged Rochdale 23-22 ahead heading into the final quarter before the Cougars dug deep and moved through the gears with a blistering flurry of pressure, scoring three late tries to seal victory.

Full back James Haythornwaite grabbed a brace to sandwich an effort from Jake Normington as Rochdale capitulated, much to the delight of the majority of the 982 crowd.

Demetriou added: “We showed today that when we get going that teams can’t defend against us.

“To get promoted in my first year as player-coach would be some achievement but it would be a bigger achievement for the club.”

Cougars: Haythornwaite, Lawton, Sagar, Normington, Duffy, Demetriou, Coleman, Benjafield, Feather, Law, Cartledge, Pursglove, Jones. Interchange: Wray, Smith, Rawlins, Shickell.