WHAT a difference in less than a week, things were at a pretty low ebb after the performance at Featherstone, but the side really looked like a rugby team against Widnes.

It seemed that almost everything came together at once, and Lee Hansen played a big part in that.

He had a towering game and his performance lifted everyone else on the field.

They really showed the Lancashire side how to play and dominated for much of the game.

For the first time since I have been at Cougar Park the half-backs had room to do their stuff, and they worked well together.

But we won't be falling in love with ourselves straight away, there is still is till a long way to go.

The side has tremendous potential to improve and our aim of finishing well up the table doesn't look anything like so far away now.

THE boys who have joined the team have made a big difference to the team, their Super League experience lifts the entire squad, but with luck there should be more to come.

I have my eyes on a couple of players at the moment and there could be moves shortly.

And it won't stop there, one of the jobs of a coach is to keep a constant watch on what is happening in the game and if I spot players who would strengthen our squad I will be trying to bring them here.

But as in all things there is a budget to keep to, there is no bottomless pit and we won't be repeating the mistakes of the past which left Cougars in deep trouble.

SUNDAY's game against Swinton should be a real cracker.

Although they are well up the table and have eight points more than us, if we can put together the same performance as we did against Widnes then we will really give them a game.

There will have to be a couple of changes to the squad with Davide Longo and Phil Stephenson out on suspensions, but I'm not too worried about that.

From now on everyone should see a gradual improvement as the team really begins to work together.

I HOPE we'll see plenty of young people down in their fancy hats this weekend.

As well as the work on the field the club is working hard in the community. Matty Foster has joined forces with Bradford Met to launch the School Meals Week during Sunday's match.

All they need to do is make a hat including the themes of Cougars and healthy eating and anyone under-13 can get in free.

They must be accompanied by an adult and should enter the ground through the entrance on Royd Ings Avenue - Freddy Cougar will be doing the judging.

There are prizes of a signed shirt and match tickets for the winner, with match tickets for the runner-up and a signed ball for third place.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.