Cougars 16, Featherstone 36 - Rugby League can be a cruel game - at half time Cougars held a 16-10 lead and looked more than capable of clocking up a memorable victory.

But Gary Moorby's homecoming hopes were shattered by a superb second half kicking demonstration from Rovers half back Jamie Rooney.

Moorby's been in the game long enough to get over any initial disappointment and grasp the positive aspects of a committed performance.

With 12 minutes to go there was just six points in it after Rovers had clawed their way back to a 22-16 lead.

One missed opportunity as Cougars were pressing on the Rovers line, followed immediately by a try at the other end, swung the game.

But the transformation in a week was nothing short of miraculous, what Moorby and Paul Moses have practised on the training ground Jason Ramshaw took on to the field. His return was probably the biggest single factor in the Cougars improvement. He inspired the first half lead, making the first two tries despite a persistent shoulder injury.

The start of the first half perfectly illustrates just how cruel this game can be. Richard Moore was another homecoming hero who demonstrated his huge potential, but he had an awful first five minutes. First he dropped a simple Ramshaw pass and from the next set of six tackles Rovers ran in their first try, Richard Chapman putting Chris Spurr in at the corner after only 90 seconds.

He then conceded a couple of silly penalties, before he settled down to show just what a big rough diamond he is, and I predict he will become a firm favourite of the Cougar faithful.

His playing style and strengths are eerily similar to those of the new coach when he first signed 25 years ago. Another silly penalty gifted Rooney the first two of his 20 point haul, but any thoughts of another whitewash were soon dispelled when Ramshaw sent the jinking Phil Stephenson on a 15 metre run to the line.

It got better two minutes later. Ramshaw chipped the Rovers line on half way, then hacked ahead for Danny Halliwell to dramatically win the race to touch down. This time Paul Ashton converted.

Rovers hit back in the 26th minute when the vulnerable Cougar right side defence was again caught out, Richard Newlove sent over in the corner by Martin Shaw.

The Cougars soon regained the lead with the best pass of the season, Danny Fearon sending Halliwell on a scorching run to the line with inch perfect precision.

Ashton added the extras and at half time Cougar confidence was sky high, but they figured without Rooney. He took Keighley out of the game.

Apart from a few silly penalties the Cougars didn't do a lot wrong. Rooney's use of the windy conditions and the slope simply didn't allow the Cougars the chance to do much.

Two early penalties narrowed the gap to 16-14 before he sent Shaw over on the hour. He added the conversion and two further penalties, one from half way after a Cougar kick off was allegedly blown back over their heads, and put a string of long distance tactical kicks downfield to frustrate the Cougars.

One kick went a full 70 metres to give Rovers a 40/20 scrum, and Shaw raced round a static Cougar backline to seal the game. Rooney landed the conversion on 70 minutes then hacked ahead after a tired pass was missed by Fearon. Rooney landed that conversion, scoring a personal total of 18 points in the second half.

Halliwell impressed on attack and was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick in the final minutes, only to be pulled back for a questionable forward pass.

The real consolation was the highly visible progress the players and coaching staff had made in a week, and if levels of fitness continue to improve the transformation should continue from game to game.