Simon Bissell opened the scoring for Cougars

Doncaster 21, Keighley Cougars 14

Proud Barry Eaton reckons a crippling injury count wrecked his Cougars side's chances of pulling off an upset at Doncaster.

Keighley headed to the National League Two leaders today trailing them only by an inferior points difference after winning their opening four fixtures.

And they came close to taking this, with big boys Doncaster thankful for Luke Gale's late drop goal before Corey Lawrie confirmed victory with his second try in the 80th minute.

The Cougars were trailing 15-14 with just eight minutes to go when Danny Jones' penalty sailed narrowly wide for the visitors.

Doncaster made the most of the let-off to snatch it but Eaton said injuries to SIX of his players during the course of the contest was the real hammer blow.

"If everyone had have come off who should have come off we'd have been playing that second half with 11 men," he said.

"We were really bruised and battered and the injuries took their toll.

"That played a big part in us potentially not being able to win the game.

"Richard Knight tore a shoulder muscle, Neil Lowe played on with a foot injury we hope doesn't involve any fractures, Ryan Smith sprung his shoulder and Dan Potter should have come off with a sprained ankle.

"There were others, including Jermaine Wray who battled on, and I'm really proud of their efforts."

It was 12-12 at the break after the Cougars had scored tries through Knight and Simon Bissell, Doncaster touching down courtesy of dangerman Lawrie and Gale.

Eaton continued: "If Danny had have kicked that goal we probably would have had enough in the tank to just hold on but it wasn't to be and they came back at us.

"Everyone should be proud of the performance though.

"Against a side like Doncaster, in the circumstances, we could have been forgiven for capitulating but the lads didn't do that and pushed them all the way."

Scrum-half Craig Fawcett was man-of-the-match for the visitors who suffered their first loss in six games but did return home with a bonus point.

9:59pm Sunday 27th April 2008

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