Keighley Cougars 44, Hunslet Hawks 8

Free-scoring Jon Presley grabbed his second hat-trick in three games as ruthless Cougars kept alive their hopes of reaching the Northern Rail Cup knock-out stages.

The former Sheffield Eagles half-back struck a treble the last time he stepped out at Cougar Park when Keighley stunned Gateshead.

And he was at it again yesterday as his side responded brilliantly to their defeat at Blackpool with a mighty display versus hapless Hunslet.

Barry Eaton’s men were too powerful up front for the visitors, with in-form prop Scott Law delivering another devastating performance.

He was presented with the Northern Rail Cup Player of the Week award before kick-off for his barnstorming effort versus Gateshead and quickly followed up.

Law ensured his side kept pouring forward and Eaton said: “He was absolutely outstanding.

“We were three props down because Andy Shickell was missing with a cartilage injury, Craig Brown had work commitments and Brendan Rawlins flew back to Australia on Saturday morning to sort his visa.

“But Scott just stepped up to the mark, really got us going and was head and shoulders the best forward on the pitch.

“He’s set some real high standards at the start of this season and could well get another award for yesterday. He might miss out though with Jon Presley getting a hat-trick and Dewsbury winning over at Featherstone as well.”

Eaton added: “Presley’s support play was great and two hat-tricks in two home games can’t be sniffed at.

“But he had some good foundations laid for him. Neil Lowe pushed up to prop and Will Cartledge played there too to help us out while Ollie Pursglove did 80 minutes at second-row.

“It ended up being a real convincing win and we bounced back from last week. The back three of George Rayner, Lee Mapals and Gav Duffy were outstanding too.”

Eaton dropped winger Sam Gardner and gave Mapals his first start since moving from York City Knights.

The tricky wideman responded with two touchdowns and Eaton said: “Lee showed us why I used to hate playing against him.

“He did to Hunslet what he used to do to us when he was with York. He played well off the bench at Blackpool and I thought he deser-ved a start.

“He took his chance and potentially Sam could now have to wait a while to get back in.”

Cartledge, Lowe, Duffy and make-shift second-row Pursglove also got across the whitewash in Keigh-ley’s nine-try romp.

Meanwhile, their Carnegie Challenge Cup third-round home tie with Pia Donkeys will take place on Saturday March 7 (kick-off tbc).