Featherstone 66

Cougars 14

Coach Gary Moorby's pre-match pep talk counted for nothing as the Cougars went down to a crushing defeat at Featherstone.

Moorby had called on his squad to 'get back to basics', but again they were simply overwhelmed by their bigger and stronger opponents for the third time this season.

Not since the Huddersfield defeat in January have the Cougars allowed so many points to be scored, in a timely reminder to Moorby of how much work he has to do with his young side.

In an echo of January's problems, Moorby picked from just 17 fit players, but that was barely an excuse for the ease with which the Rovers waltzed through the Keighley defence.

The opening 40 minutes were almost as bad as the pathetic display against Swinton as tackle after tackle was missed - with Chris Hannah responsible for at least two Rovers scores.

"It was very disappointing," said a surprisingly calm Moorby after the game.

"There were too many missed tackles in one-on-one situations and we gave the ball up too easily at times

"I was pleased with the enthusiasm and commitment in the second-half, that cannot be questioned.

"But we were only picking our team from 17 players and played with only two props.

"When they can bring on replacements who are bigger than all of our players, that shows you just what we are up against."

Chris Spurr and Jamie Rooney opened the scoring and the Chris Wainwright reply was just a consolation. Then in a 13-minute spell, Rovers went from 12-4 to

40-4, with tries from Matt Bramald, the 100th of his career, man-of-the-match Richard Chapman (twice), Neil Lowe and Nathan Graham.

Whatever Moorby said to the players at half-time failed to bring about a change in performance as Richard Newlove and Graham had both scored by the 50th minute.

Then began the Cougars' mini-revival of which Moorby was so proud.

Mick Durham, pictured, burst through, and with winger Craig Horne off the field joined by Craig Booth after a bout of fighting, the Australian managed a second.

But indecision by Paul Ashton gave Spurr his second try and a chance for the home side to continue racking up the score.

Rooney went over again before Bramald finished off the pointathon with a controversial score in the corner in the final minute.

The Cougars were well-beaten in a men-against-boys display that did little to inspire the ever-dwindling Cougar away support.

Sunday's game at Gateshead Thunder now becomes a must-win encounter for the Cougars.