Cougars 28, Oldham 33 - ONE missed try turned what could have been a glorious victory into another of a string of defeats.

Craig McDowell, who had a storming game for the Cougars, collected a neat pass from Karl Smith following a Matty Firth kick, and stormed over the line. But as he went to touch down he was hit by Jamie Bunyan and as he tried to ground the ball it flew from his grasp.

Cougars were playing some of their best rugby of the season and looked set to take the points from Oldham, but in the moment that the ball slipped from McDowell's hands the complexion of the game changed.

After going in just one point behind, at 14-15, the Keighley side dominated the second period and that 'try' would have given them the lead while they were in the ascendancy.

Oldham extended their slender half time lead early in the second half following a quick re-start. Three plays later Bunyan went in and former cougar Pat Rich converted to make it 21-14.

Cougars were in a determined mood and Richard Merville, back after injury, made a tremendous impact up front but would not have expected to score a 52-metre try. He intercepted short of the half way line, plucking an Ian Watson chip out of the air, and won a tremendous race to the line.

The score brought back memories of Steve Hall scoring a similar try at Batley, but then Stevie was running down the slope and this time Merville was left gasping for breath after sprinting up the Cougar Park hill.

The try inspired Cougars and they battered the Oldham line and eight minutes later McDowell went over, but instead of taking the lead they were hit by two quick long range tries. Simon Svabic completed the first and Watson the second, with Svabic adding both goals to complete the Lancashire club's scoring.

Cougars nearly pulled it back as the game went into a long period of extra time after referee Steve Nicholson had limped off with a calf injury. Phil Stephenson lost the ball over the line before Matt Foster sent Robinson over on the left wing with a slick reverse pass.

Foster was there again to provide the piece of magic that put Adam Mitchell over on the right. Mitchell also added the conversion which took Cougars to within five points, but it was frustratingly too late.

Three of Oldham's tries came from quick re-starts when gentle Keighley kicks had been cleaned up by the Oldham defence. Cougar coach Gary Moorby, and his coaching staff, were left fuming after their side failed to wake up to the danger and were caught with sucker punches.

Earlier it had been a real 'Roses' battle which Cougars led for the only time after Craig Nipperess landed an early penalty. They were soon behind after Oldham followed up with quick tries from Keith Brennan and Nick Johnson to make it 8-2.

The Cougars were given a huge lift with the introduction of huge blond prop Jamie Fielden. He came on in the 17thy minute, made 10 metres with his first touch and scored with his second. He had only been on the field 3 minutes when Matty Firth put him into a huge gap and Nipperess converted to make it 8-8.

Oldham regained the ascendancy with the first of their three quick re-starts, Brennan sending Nick Johnson on an 80 metre burst, taking on the disorganised Cougar defensive line. . Pat rich failed to land his first three goal attempts, but he added a penalty and Ian Watson realised it could be a close encounter and tagged on a drop goal.

The Keighley side hit back immediately with a well taken try, Matt Foster putting Andy Robinson in at the corner after Firth's click pass had created the overlap. Nipperess failed to convert, but added a penalty to make it 15-14 and set up the thrilling second half.