Cougars cruise but Eaton unhappy with defence (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Cougars cruise but Eaton unhappy with defence

8:51pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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Keighley Cougars 60, London Skolars 28

Frustration was evident in Barry Eaton’s voice and on his face even after his charges moved up to second with this win over London Skolars.

The Cougars chief was fuming over the 28 points conceded by his team against a side that was second from bottom and had previously scored only 92 points all season.

“This match was all about our defence – or lack of it,” steamed Eaton.

“I would have been very happy with the 60 points but we simply gifted Skolars points by poor handling and decision making.

“It’s something we simply have to fix.

“We’re now in the last third of the season and preparing for our next games – Oldham away and then Dewsbury Rams at home.

“These two games alone could determine where we finish up this season and we’ll have to work hard on our problems before we go in against either of those two sides.”

Eaton was happy with what the Cougars produced for themselves with ten tries, including a Scott Law hat-trick – two came in the first half and one in the second.

Scrum half Danny Jones hit the target ten times in ten attempts and the Coug-ars’ unbeaten home record is still to be breached.

Eaton added: “Of course it’s good to be second in the league but we wouldn’t have got away with it had we been playing better opposition.”

He believed Cougars all-owed their concentration levels to drop after they raced away into a ninth-minute 12-0 lead with converted tries by Daley Williams and Law.

The Skolars levelled at 12-12 with tries by full back Chad Isles and a bizarre effort from winger Jeremy Girault after Ollie Purs-glove appeared to head the ball backwards, giving possession away.

Paul Thorman, whose first-half tactical kicking was superb, added both conversions.

The Cougars accelerated away again to lead 24-12 with two converted tries by Dan Potter but, a minute before half-time, another Cougars defensive blunder saw winger Corey Simms race through to score Lon-don’s third try.

Although the Cougars had far too much firepower in the second half – they collected converted tries by Williams, Law (2), Jon Presley (2) and Hughes – their defence was shattered twice more.

On both occasions they had given away possession needlessly as Simms and centre John Paxton scored tries and Thorman tacked on another conversion.

The game was held up for ten minutes to allow Skolars’ substitute forward Keir Bell to receive treatment. He suffered suspected serious concussion and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Elsewhere in Champion-ship One, runaway leaders Dewsbury were too good for Swinton and reeled off their 12th straight victory.

The Rams won 36-8, with Chris Spurr and Liam Finn both touching down twice.

Oldham are third after thrashing Workington 60-6 in Cumbria, while York slipped to fourth following their 49-36 defeat at Blackpool.

Rochdale’s 41-22 win at home to Hunslet means London Skolars are now bottom of the table.

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