KEIGHLEY Cougars legends came from near and far to celebrate both Josh Lynam and Phil Stephenson at Cougar Park.

The game was played as a part of Lynam’s testimonial with half the monies raised on the day being donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the charity that supports those diagnosed with the disease that Stephenson is currently battling.

Played over four quarters rather than two halves in front of a healthy crowd at Cougar Park, the game was contested in good spirits with the efforts of all who took to the field appreciated by the fans in attendance.

And the headliners were not just on the pitch either, Keighley Cougars legends Daryl Powell, Nick Pinkney and Gareth Cochrane were sat in the stands while former Bradford Bulls pair Leon Pryce and Stuart Fielden were pitch side.

Lyny’s legends side sported the wounds of battle early on as Danny Snowden was forced from the field after suffering a broken rib in the first tackle of the afternoon before minutes later, they lost Chris Dooling to a nasty cut to the head that required stitches.

The Stepho Select came close to opening the scoring when Simeon Hoyle knocked-on after a break and offload from Danny Ekis before having a try disallowed early in the second quarter as the ball was spilled in the grounding process.

Stepho’s side would finally get that first try, the only points of the opening period, as Adam Mitchell broke the line with a lovely show and go before popping the ball out to Bradford Bulls utility back Alix Stephenson, Phil’s nephew, who raced 30 metres to slide over.

The second half began in the same competitive yet even vein, and Max Tomlinson thought he had the second try of the day for the Stepho Select but the referee ruled the try out for a forward pass in the build-up.

However, Lyny’s Legends lost the ball from the scrum and the free play that followed saw Batley Bulldogs utility Keenan Tomlinson send the ball out to his dad on the wing, Max this time touching down.

With Josh Lynam now on the field, his side got a rare stint of possession in the opposition half and they made it count as Jason Barnes dove over in the corner after good work from Cal Hudson and Ricky Leatham to get the ball over to the winger.

It was brief respite, however, as Danny Ekis showed that props can do what half-backs can too, throwing an outrageous dummy before side stepping around the would be tackle and speeding his way to crashing over.

James Rushforth was next to score for Stepho’s Select, breaking the line from 40 metres out and jogging his way to touch down.

The hat-trick loomed for Tomlinson on the back of defensive confusion, it appeared though that Max himself got caught up in the brief moment of madness and he offloaded on the line to Hoyle, who again spilled the ball as the line beckoned.

Jamie Stephenson joined Alix in getting the family name on the scoreboard, touching down in the corner after finding the overlap on the wing.

Rushforth then scored his second with the last play of the afternoon, the full-back rolling back the years as he shot out of the line to intercept a looping pass near to his own line before racing 90 metres up the slope and touching down beneath the crossbar.

Karl Smith then attempted to back heel the conversion over but much to the humour of the crowd, his effort barely got off the ground.

The Teams: Lyny Legends: Stokes, Barnes, Copperwaite, R Spencer, Palmer, Donnelly, Leatham, Snowden, Hudson, Price, Lunn, Rawlins, Dooling. Subs: A Kennedy, J Kennedy, D Lynam, J Lynam, Pickles, M Smith, P Smith, I Spencer

Stepho Select: Rushforth, M Tomlinson, Bramald, Horne, Robinson, Ashton, Alix Stephenson, Andy Stephenson, Hoyle, Ekis, J Stephenson, Singleton, Foster. Subs: Cardoza, Gardner, Smith, K Tomlinson, Muff, Mitchell, Clegg, Wainhouse, Merville, Parker, Patterson, Wainwright, Clough

Match Stats:

Result: Lyny’s Legends 4-28 Stepho Select

Lyny Legends: Tries: Barnes (56). Goals: Hudson (0/1).

Stepho Select: Tries: Alix Stephenson (34); Tomlinson (51); Ekis (60); Rushforth (64, 73); J Stephenson (68). Goals: Mitchell (2/4); Smith (0/2).

Referee: Tom Goodings (Bradford)