Keighley Cougars 40, Gateshead Thunder 20

Impressive Keighley sent out a chilling warning to all their title rivals by ruthlessly silencing Gateshead’s thunder.

On a freezing night at Cougar Park, Barry Eaton’s side got their campaign off to the perfect start with a comprehensive Northern Rail Cup victory.

Gateshead hadn’t lost a game since last July when it had again been Keighley who brought them to their knees at Lawkholme Lane From that day, Thunder went on to win their final six matches, lift the National League Two title and gain promotion.

On this form, it looks like the Cougars could follow them up there in 2009.

Despite being without major signings Carl Hughes and Daley Williams, and Australian prop Brendan Rawlins still awaiting his visa, Keighley showed all the characteristics needed to have a genuine tilt at Championship One.

They trailed 14-12 at the break and looked in danger of being over-run by their sizeable opponents who picked out too many holes around the ruck too easily.

But Cougars re-organised and sorted their defensive line to leave their opponents struggling for ideas in the second half.

After racing 28-14 ahead, Keighley did concede a try to leave them just eight points in front with eight minutes to go.

Last season that could have caused panic but on Tuesday night, they stayed composed and finished on fire with Jon Presley striking twice to complete his hat-trick.

The signs are there that Eaton’s squad have stepped up a level and robust prop Scott Law epitomised everything good about them.

The long-haired front-rower couldn’t be contained as he punched hole after hole into the Gateshead defence, constantly looking to off-load and always making yards to get Cougars on the front foot.

“His lines were fantastic,” admitted Eaton. “Scott probably benefited from starting on the bench as he could see where those holes were coming.

“Time and time again he got his nose through and made great in-roads.”

Burly second-row Will Cartledge put in one huge hit on Michael Knowles, prop Craig Brown also made some strong charges and Scotland’s World Cup man Neil Lowe proved a constant thorn in Gateshead’s side.

Behind the pack, Danny Jones was always probing at scrum half, kicked six out of seven goals and had a hand in two of Cougars’ tries, while Presley was at his poaching best.

Gateshead went ahead through Ben McAlpine in the fourth minute before both sides had a man yellow-carded soon after.

Keighley’s Gav Duffy unleashed a punch after taking offence to Dylan Nash messing around with George Raynor at the play-the-ball and each got their marching orders.

Raynor got on the end of Jones’ grubber to get the home side off the mark, Gateshead responded through Kevin Neighbour’s effort out wide but Cougars reacted well with skipper James Feather sprinting in off Law’s off-load. Jones tagged on the conversion but the visitors regained the lead in the final minute of the half via Stewart Sanderson.

Eaton fixed things during the interval, negating the impact of former Castleford hooker Andrew Henderson who had ripped them up at times.

Gateshead couldn’t handle Lowe as he squeezed out a pass close to the line for Duffy to cross on 45 minutes, Jones’ touchline kick squirming over off the bar.

It was the No7 who then created Presley’s first just before the hour-mark, slicing open Gateshead with a silky step before finding his half-back partner on the inside.

Loose forward Greg Nicholson was just denied by a desperate tap-tackle but it was his brilliant break that led to centre Ollie Pursglove finishing off.

Gateshead enjoyed a rare breakthrough when Luke Branighan twirled out of a tackle in the 72nd minute but the Cougars remained in control. Duffy danced his way over with a mazy run and, although he had the ball ripped off him behind the line, it only fell into the waiting hands of Presley.

Presley completed his treble in the dying seconds with a slick step and fend to ease through from 15 metres.

COUGARS: Raynor, Gardner, Potter, Pursglove, Duffy, Presley, Jones, Shickell, Feather, Brown, Cartledge, Lowe, Nicholson. Replacements: Wray, Smith, Bissell, Law.