Demetriou has eye on Blackpool final after Obst brace earns win

Sam Obst’s first-half double was the highlight of a dominant display from the Cougars, who had too much class for Championship 1 outfit Oldham.

It means Demetriou’s side can begin dreaming of a trip to Blackpool for the showpiece Northern Rail Cup final, which is seen as the Challenge Cup of silverware for teams outside of Super League.

Demetriou, whose side open their Championship campaign at home to Featherstone on Sunday, said: “There are some areas that we need to fix, such as discipline and errors, but a couple of weeks ago I questioned the team’s attitude and I could not do that today.

“Defensively I thought we were outstanding and we were aggressive.

“Our goal was to progress to the knockout stages, and we’ve achieved that, so it’s a big pat on the back for the boys.”

Cougars led early on when Obst finished off a neat handling sequence and Danny Jones added the extras.

Oldham replied when scrum-half Jack Reid went over for a try converted by Jamie Dallimore but Keighley began to make their class pay.

Loose forward Richard Jones crossed for a fine effort and a pass from Jones then sent Obst clear for his second, leaving the Cougars 18-6 up at the break.

Cougars struck twice in the final quarter through Richie Barnett and Gavin Duffy before Oldham had the final say when full-back Miles Greenwood claimed a breakaway score.

Keighley Cougars: Haythornthwaite, Duffy, Parata, Normington, Barnett, D Jones, March, Korkidas, Obst, Rawlins, Pursglove, Clough, R Jones. Substitutes: Sheriffe, Shickell, Demetriou, Coleman

Oldham: Greenwood, Robinson, Cookson, Brocklehurst, Gillam, Dallimore, Reid, Boults, Roden, Gilchrist, Clarke, Noone, Thompson. Substitutes: Smith, Clough, Ellison, Johnson.

Referee: R Laughton (RFL).