Swinton 46, Cougars 0 - Long-serving Cougar fans are used to seeing one-sided scorelines - but they are not used to seeing their own team on the receiving end.

Players, coaches and fans try find some positive point from even the most depressing afternoon, but the only bright spots from Sunday's display against Swinton, was that it was played in glorious summer sunshine - and they didn't suffer a 50-point defeat.

They were saved from the ignominy of rugby league's knockout blow by the final hooter, but by then they had been rolling, punch-drunk, on the ropes for most of the second half.

After their spirited display against top club Dewsbury the previous week it was difficult to see what had happened to the squad to see them so lacking in drive and team spirit. It was an afternoon the small band of hardy travelling fans will want to forget, but it is likely to be etched in their memories as one of the worst Cougar performances in years.

Their only impressive brief period came in the opening nine minutes. Richard Mervill looked an man inspired, both in attack and defence. There were also hints of something special to come from Johnny Wainhouse and Danny Murgatroyd.

Impressive handling had looked set to bring a try after just five minutes when Matt Bramald burst into the Lions' defence. He chose to cut back inside and was swallowed by the recovering defence while the clear overlap outside him would have created a simple score.

Swinton's influential scrum half Warren Ayres suffered a broken leg after nine minutes as he tried to offload in an innocent-looking tacking. He was left with the bone sticking through the flesh and the players were sent to rest in the shade of the stand while medical staff worked on the injury for almost 10 minutes.

When play resumed it was the Keighley side who looked to have lost their killer instinct.

Lee Marsh scored a penalty after an offside decision from referee Jamie Leahy. The official didn't have his best game, but he could not be held responsible for all 46 points, or the 'nil' at the other end.

Phil Joseph scored the first try after Lee Marsh had hoisted a high ball. Cougar players were obstructed as they tried to recover the kick and Sam Gardner fumbled and Jones pounced in the corner.

Marsh added the second of his seven successful kicks which went in off the upright. Stuart Oldham added another try and Joseph added his second after Cougars were controversially penalised for ball stealing.

The home side took an 18-0 lead into the break as the Keighley side suffered from lack of possession, and gave up the little they had too easily.

Three minutes after the break Paul Ashton was trapped with nowhere to go on the fifth tackle while still in his own half. Swinton took full advantage with Danny Heaton going close before exposed some woeful tackling to go over in the corner.

Danny Murgatroyd provided a rare glimmer of hope as he stormed up the centre of the field, showing just why he is attracting interest from other clubs as he continues to grow in confidence.

Mervill and Heaton were sent to sin-bin after punches were thrown and the Lions took advantage of extra room in the Cougar defensive line when Wayne English dummied his way through to touch down under the posts.

Karl Smith was also sent to the sin-bin after holding down in the tackle. Once again Cougars seemed to wake from their slumber and impressive handling saw Daley Williams with a chance to open their account, but he lost the ball with the line at his mercy after a slick pass from Gareth Greenwood.

After Heaton had returned from the bin he broke down the right and exposed the Keighley side's lethargy when he was allowed to run under the posts to give marsh an easy conversion. Eight minutes later he added his second, again finding touch under the posts.

Marsh hammered the final nail into the Cougar coffin with another try beneath the posts and added the conversion, with the hooter saving Cougars from shipping even more points.