COUGAR players earned an extra holiday when they stopped Gateshead scoring in Christmas Eve's 52-0 victory on Tyneside.

Coach Steve Deakin had planned a heavy training session for Boxing Day, but his assistant Michael Slicker came up with the suggestion of dangling a carrot in front of the squad.

"He suggested giving them extra time off if they stopped Gateshead scoring, and it worked a treat. they lads showed extra motivation on the couple of occasions the home side looked like scoring," Deakin said.

"I was really pleased with the input from the other members of the coaching staff who helped us to focus on the game on the run up to Christmas. The club also helped by allowing us to travel up the day before to get our preparation right.

"The lads repaid them with a very clinical and professional performance," he said.

The squad was due back in training last night, after working on personal fitness programmes over the holiday, but heavy snow and a frozen pitch left plans for the New Year's Day game against Hull KR in doubt.

Early yesterday the A-team game at Widnes was called off because of a frozen pitch.

"We just hope the weather will relent and let the game go ahead. We don't want anything to interupt our current form," Steve Deakin said.

The team came through the Gateshead game without injury and the same team is due to start against Hull KR. Gary Lord is available for selection after sitting out his one match ban.

"We hope to have a pitch inspection on Sunday and the outcome will be on our website and the Cougar Call line.

If all goes well we hope to have a bumper crowd," said Gary Murgatroyd.