Keighley Cougars 92, Gateshead Thunder 6

The Cougars did a demolition job on Gateshead to end their four-game losing streak.

Jason Demetriou’s side finally found form with the ball to run in 17 tries as half-backs Jy-mel Coleman and Ryan Smith dazzled.

The new pairing laid the framework for some stunning attacking rugby, while Chris Baines added a 26-point haul from two tries and eight goals.

Greg Nicholson also grabbed a hat-trick to celebrate his recall to the team in true style.

Gateshead have not won a game all year and the reasons for that were abundantly clear in the opening quarter.

Keighley were able to break the line at will and took the opportunity to play some decent, off-the-cuff football.

Coleman provided a well-timed short ball so Baines could open the scoring and fellow half-back Smith created the second for Craig Moss.

James Feather’s swift delivery put Andy Shickell over and the hooker claimed one for himself, diving over from dummy half.

Needing a confidence boost after their recent run of poor form, the Cougars were happy to keep racking up points and Nicholson touched down twice in three minutes.

The first came following an horrendous defensive mix-up by the Thunder, the second after a powerful break from Brendon Rawlins right down the middle.

Smith and Coleman linked up well to put Baines through for his second and another beautiful, floating cut-out pass from Coleman sent in Ben Sagar.

The Cougars brought up their half-century two minutes before the break when Smith stepped right and left to beat several would-be tacklers.

Gateshead did get themselves on the board right on the half-time hooter when Michael Kelly made a break and put in a quality grubber for Ryan Clarke to score.

Coleman escaped a couple of tackles to keep the scoreboard ticking over after the break, before Demetriou got over from Smith’s pass.

An outstanding show and go from Moss allowed him to send in Scott Law and Nicholson wrapped up his hat-trick at the end of a great passage of play.

On-loan Leeds Rhinos pair Jake Normington and George Elliott took centre stage late on, having a hand in four tries between them.

Normington broke from 50 metres to touch down and then supplied a powerful burst and offload for Smith’s second try.

Then Elliott struck twice in two minutes, finishing a decent passing move for the first before running home from 70 metres.

Cougars: Moss; Duffy, Sagar, Normington, Elliott; Coleman, Smith; Shickell, Feather, Law, Baines, Nicholson, Demetriou. Interchange: Wray, Benjafield, Rawlins, Shepherd.