Cougars 32, Gateshead Thunder 10 - GARY MOORBY'S young squad gave the new coach his first victory since taking over at Christmas.

Although the win, against a struggling Gateshead side, was far from convincing the progress his coaching staff are making was there for all to see with Keighley players Richard Moore and Karl Smith playing a big part.

If anything the expectation surrounding the game was a little unfair. Gateshead, who lost most of their senior players, their coach, their chairman and main sponsor recently, were forced to field almost a complete Academy side.

The team had an average age of 19 and most people expected Cougars to carry out a demolition job.

But it is only a few months since Keighley were in exactly the same position and are still rebuilding with new young players under a new young(ish!) coach.

The difference is Keighley are six months down the line from their last crisis and a little better prepared, more settled and have a couple of players of real quality and experience in Phil Stephenson and the Jason Ramshaw.

Gateshead were just enthusiastic. They played their Geordie socks off from start to finish and were rewarded with the opening and closing tries from excellent young full back Kevin Neighbour.

He shocked everyone in Cougar park when he raced in after 90 seconds but despite his effort a shock result was never on the cards.

He completed a good afternoon's work in the dying seconds when he leapt highest to collect a crossfield bomb for the final try. Neil Thorman's touchline conversion was nothing less than Gateshead's effort deserved.

In between it was largely one way traffic. The Cougars completely dominating possession and field position but lacked the a killer instinct to take full advantage, particularly in the first half.

They got going in the 10th minute, Adam Mitchell kick-starting the Cougar engine with a penalty.

A lovely long pass put Chris Wainwright over in the 13th minute and Mitchell converted but he couldn't add the extras two minutes later when a chip to the corner saw Danny Halliwell win the race to the ball.

The touchdown it 12-4, a dozen points in five minutes and it stayed that way until the 42nd minute.

As the first half closed the Cougars got sloppy and suffered a Moorby ear bashing at the break as a result. Far too often they wasted good possession with unecessary passes.

Whatever Moorby said at the break it certainly worked, Olliver Wilkes busting through weak tackling to race over.

As the game wore on and Gateshead's defence tired Danny Fearon became an increasingly big influence, showing glimpses of the flair which the team has been missing. He sent Karl Smith in at the corner on the hour, had a hand in two disallowed 'tries' before his midfield breaks set up the last two tries.

The first came a minute after everyone thought Paul Ashton had scored the try of the game, only to be brought back to half way for a very dubious forward pass decision.

The second chance Ashton took with some style, racing in from 25metres out after supporting Fearon on the inside.

Fearon then combined with Ramshaw for another midfield break. Matty Firth looked to be going over only to be superbly tackled by covering winger Robin Peers.

From the resultant play the ball Gareth Hooson sidestepped his way over in the corner. Ashton added the last two conversions to close the Cougar account, and certainly coach Moorby will have been a lot happier with his side's second half performance.