Keighley Cougars begin the New Year in a positive frame of mind after a cracking start to their pre-season fixture schedule.

Head coach Barry Eaton's nine new signings have bedded in well and his sizable squad looks to be in good form after they pummeled their opposition in their first two pre-season fixtures.

Granted, their opposition were both amateur sides, as the Keighley Amatuer Select XIII and Bradford & Bingley offered little in the way of resistance to the sizzling Cougar attack and defence.

This Sunday's opponents, National League One outfit Batley, will be a much sterner test for Eaton's squad, depending on what kind of team they put on the field.

Last Sunday Eaton said that Bradford & Bingley might not have fielded their best team in the Cougars' 40-5 win at Wagon Lane.

Still, the Cougars gave a good account of themselves, playing rugby union in the first half of the cross code game.

So good was Keighley's start (they were 12-0 up after seven minutes) that Eaton and assistant coach Glen Barraclough found themselves smiling at each other on the sidelines and wondering what rugby union side they could play next year in their pre-season fixture schedule!

Speaking of rugby union, Keighley RUFC are back in league action this Saturday, playing their high-flying derby rivals Ilkley.

Keighley won this home fixture last year, 13-11, but this time around could be a bit tougher for the Utley lads as Ilkley are in second place, three points behind league leaders Sandal.

But this is a derby and form can be thrown out the window, so this one is not to be missed!