Swinton Lions 12, Keighley Cougars 34: Cougars produced a superb second half performance to maintain their fine recent run of form.

They ran in five tries without reply in 40 minutes of controlled attacking rugby and it could have been more - two late tries were disallowed.

Keighley coach Karl Harrison was delighted with their third successive win. He said: "This was a good performance and we showed our best completion rate of the season.

"I thought their forwards got on top as the first half ended but I told the boys at half-time there was no need to panic.

"Swinton are a big team and I knew they would tire and our fast men cut them to pieces later in the game. The consistency I've asked for all season is now coming."

The Cougars got off to a flying start when Martin Wood landed an early penalty. Then after an impressive break from Dean Hanger, Wood and Karl Smith combined to send Craig Horne in at the corner, Wood landing the touchline conversion.

As the half wore on, Swinton's massive pack began to take control and behind them scrum half Ian Watson was a constant threat with his clever kicking game.

He landed a penalty and was unlucky to have a try disallowed after Hanger had fumbled his high kick, but Watson soon made up for it.

He collected his own chip kick in midfield and sent a pass to stand-off Andy Craig who raced away on a diagonal run to the corner to make it 8-6.

Watson scored Swinton's second try and added the conversion to make the score 12-8.

Keighley tried to get back on terms but were frustrated by a couple of handling errors as the half wore on and were probably happy to settle for that small deficit at the break.

The second half was totally dominated by the Cougars. A lovely delayed pass from Wood sent Ian Hughes racing over in the 44th minute to level the scores and from then on there was no looking back.

Phil Stephenson made 30 metres before moving the ball wide where Hughes sent Jason Lee in at the corner.

Nathan Antonik also impressed, sharing the direction of the play with Wood.

He jinked his way over in the 64th minute, Wood converted and the Cougars led 22-12.

As the half wore on, Keighley were unstoppable. Paul Owen made a 60-metre break and Horne was unlucky to have a try disallowed in the corner.

It didn't matter that much because within a minute Antonik created a try from nothing. He ran straight at the defensive line, put Harrison through and his inside pass sent Wood diving gleefully over for a try he converted himself.

Lee had a try disallowed but again the Cougars came straight back. Antonik set up a wide play and Wood's inside pass sent sub Ben Thompson over, Wood's difficult conversion completed the scoring as the hooter sounded.

The only depressing thing for the Cougars was the loss in the 54th minute of Hanger. He went down awkwardly in a tackle after his best performance since he moved to Keighley and could be out for at least a month with medial ligament damage.

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