KEIGHLEY Cougars' League One play-off hopes all but ended with a 20-6 defeat at London Skolars.

The fixture served as this year's Friday Night Lights, the traditional Challenge Cup final curtain raiser, but it resulted in the Cougars lights being turned out.

The tone for the evening was set in the opening 15 minutes as the Skolars ran in three unanswered tries as they took the game by the scruff of the neck.

The game's opening score came through a contentious build up as, despite an apparent forward pass in the build-up, Sam Nash broke through the Keighley line and used the man on the inside to send Mike Bishay through to score.

From the next London attack, Daymeric Pelo sold a beautiful dummy to two defenders to race through and dive over from close range.

And things didn’t get better for Craig Lingard’s side as Nash this time went alone and managed to power his way over from close range.

Pelo then should have had a second on the evening but was denied by Aaron Levy who made a last ditch tackle to prevent the second row from scoring.

But the home side extended their lead further through former Bull Omari Caro, who intercepted a pass on his own line and proceeded to go the full length of the field unchallenged to score in the corner.

Bishay then dragged his drop goal attempt wide of the uprights shortly before the half-time hooter.

Despite his superb first score, Pelo was not having much luck and knocked on even though he was over the line unchallenged on this occasion.

Caro was then denied his second in comedic circumstances as the winger kicked through Jermaine Coleman’s chip before colliding with the post as a try beckoned.

The Cougars then saved themselves the indignity of being nilled as hooker James Feather burrowed over from close range after the first real pressure of the evening on the London line.

Will Martin converted a penalty to wrap up the victory before Davey Dixon’s evening was ended early with a rib injury.