Keighley Cougars 26, Hunslet Hawks 20

Barry Eaton admits his misfiring side must improve if they are going to have any chance of play-off success.

The Cougars returned to fourth in Co-operative National League Two today after stumbling to an unconvincing win against struggling Hunslet Hawks.

Eaton berated referee Paul Carr’s performance in a “slow, stop-start, no flow” game but conceded Keighley – held 16-16 by the competition’s basement boys on the hour mark – have to do more themselves.

“A result is always determined by two teams but today’s match came as close as ever possible to not being,” he said.

“The referee just did not police the play-the-ball, while Hunslet’s tactics slowed us and the game down, but I am disappointed we didn’t combat it.

“If we want to advance in the play-offs we will have to cope with teams trying to stop us playing the way we want; we must learn to deal with it.”

Eaton signalled out Will Cartledge as the key to the crucial victory after the big second-rower came off the bench to give Keighley some much-needed direction against the club he signed from last year.

“Will just went about his business and really did his job,” said the coach.

“He didn’t concern himself with what was happening but just got on with his own game – going forward, playing the ball fast and doing his tackling.

“We should have had more players following his lead, while he also scored a vital try.”

Cartledge went over on 62 minutes to put the hosts back in front before Danny Jones added another, converting both to give Keighley a 26-16 lead.

Hunslet hooker Richard Chapman touched down two minutes from time to make for a nervy finish but the hosts secured victory in their penultimate league match of the season.

Craig Fawcett, Ryan Smith and Brendan Rawlins scored first-half Cougars tries, Jones improving twice to make it 16-10 at the turnaround.

Karl Gunney and Scott Childs scored Hunslet’s first-half tries, but the visitors, desperate to avoid the wooden spoon, struck early in the second through Mark Cunningham to get within touching distance of a big shock.

If Cougars win their final match at London Skolars on Friday and already-promoted Barrow defeat Doncaster two nights earlier, Eaton’s men will finish fourth and bag a home play-off draw.

Meanwhile, the Cougars have cancelled Mick Fogerty’s contract with immediate effect.

The centre, who has missed most of the season with a wrist injury, hasn’t been offered a new deal for 2009 and Eaton decided to release him now.

A potent strike player, Oldham-based Fogerty failed to establish himself again following his recent return and struggled to attend training.