Cougars 40 Batley Bulldogs 12 - KARL HARRISON'S jaded troops flourished in the summer sunshine as they equalled the club record run of 12 successive victories.

After a desperate first half when the Cougar side looked to be paying a heavy price for their tough midweek game against Oldham, they bounced back with a storming second period which was as hot as the weather.

"They were physically and mentally tired after a very damanding game against Oldham, but to come back and score 40 points shows the character of the whole team," Harrison said.

To equal the club record was a tremendous bonus added to a superb victory. The record was set way back in 1902-03 when it included two Challenge Cup wins plus 10 league victories.

That year they went on to win the Division Two championship, and the whole club -- together with thousands of supporters -- hope that is an omen for their current Centenary RL season.

The Cougars last defeat was 28-36 at home to Leigh Centurions on March 5, and that match returned briefly to haunt the Cougar outfit as they piled up a string of errors in a dismal first half.

Things started brightly enough when Martin Wood stepped through two tackles before offloading to Dean Hanger who needed no second invitation to power in under the posts, leaving Wood with an easy goal attempt -- the first of eight successful kicks as he scored a personal total of 20 points.

But from then things started to go rapidly down hill for Keighley. They tamely handed over possession allowing Batley to dominate the opening period and only their own errors prevented the Bulldogs scoring more points.

After 14 minutes full back Craig Lingard burst to the line from close range to be met by a posse of Cougar tacklers. He dropped the ball, but referee Stephen Nicholson awarded a penalty try and put Keighley skipper Alan Boothroyd on report after spotting a punch in the tackle. Rick Price had no trouble adding the conversion.

Steve Barnett received the first of two sin-binnings for holding dawn in the tackle, but Wood missed the penalty opportunity, he had earlier accepted a simple penalty chance.

Matt Walker went close for the Cougars, but dropped the ball as he went for the touchdown before Gary Barnett danced through a static cougar defence with Price again adding the conversion.

A second penalty in the dying minutes pulled Keighley back to within two points with the Bulldogs taking a 12-10 lead into the break.

Despite being behind there was little cause for concern in the Keighley camp. Harrison had a bench packed with eager substitutes waiting for their chance, including his younger brother, Paul, who was top try scorer for Batley last season. Paul Owen and Jason Ramshaw came on at half time and the side seemed to flourish while the heat took its toll on the Batley outfit.

Steve Pickles started the five try onslaught three minutes after the re-start, diving over from a play-the-ball close to Batley line. Ian Hughes pulled off a superb try-saving tackle which seemed to drain the last ounce of effort from the visitors and the parade really got underway.

Matt Walker cruised in before Wood finished off a great break from Nathan Antonik. Graeme Hallas looked to be clear after a blistering break down the let, but was hauled down by a desperate tackle from Gleadhill. Mick Slicker dived over the Batley line, but found he had gone without the ball.

Ramshaw spotted an inch of space and powered through the defence. Nathan Antonik completing the scoring when he calmly followed up Ramshaw's inch-perfect chip through.

The only black spot from an impressive second half display was an ankle injury which saw Alan Boothroyd carried off in the second minute and the dismissal of Dean Hanger for fighting which could see him facing suspension, but the disciplinary hearing will not be held until after Sunday's trip to Hull KR.

Cougars: Hanger; Tomlinson, Smith, Hallas, Lee; Pickles, Antonik; Stephenson, Seal, Boothroyd, Walker, Hughes, Wood. subs (all used) owen, P Harrison, Slicker, Ramshaw.

Batley Bulldogs: Lingard; Bargate, Jackson, Simpson, Gleadhill; Price, G Barnett; Luckwell, Clarke, McWilliam, Hicks, flynn, S Barnett. Subs (all used): Cass, Beevers, Walton, Padgett.

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