Keighley Cougars 38 Rochdale Hornets 23: Cougars on verge of dream promotion

Inspired by the intricate probings of their veteran player-coach, the Cougars were simply too strong and too vibrant for a Hornets outfit who buckled in the final quarter.

Keighley dominated territory and possession throughout but made their supporters wait anxiously before a late flurry of tries sealed a comfortable victory.

Former Wakefield Wildcats star Demetriou, 35, has performed an outstanding job in his debut season at Cougar Park.

A fairytale finish now beckons as Keighley travel to the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday to face Workington in the Grand Final, with the winners earning promotion to the Championship.

Demetriou said: “To get promoted in my first year would be some achievement, but it would be a bigger achievement for the club.

“We showed today that when we get going that teams can’t defend against us. We were pretty dominant throughout the game. We just had to be a bit smarter and not make silly errors.”

Rochdale scored two converted tries through Andy Saywell and Wayne English before the Cougars replied through Ben Sagar.

Sagar then claimed his second and Danny Lawton also went over before Rochdale hit back in the 54th minute through Steve McDermott. Keighley responded again through Gavin Duffy and, although a drop-goal from Paul Crook edged Rochdale 23-22 ahead, the hosts sealed the win with tries from James Haythornwaite (2) and Jake Normington.

Keighley Cougars: Haythornwaite, Lawton, Sagar, Normington, Duffy, Demetriou, Coleman, Benjafield, Feather, Law, Cartledge, Pursglove, Jones. Substitutes: Wray, Smith, Rawlins, Shickell.

Rochdale Hornets: English, Bloomfield, Gorton, Pyke, Saywell, Crook, Roper, Cookson, Hough, Mervill, Middleshurst, Hobson, Donoghue. Substitutes: Ekis, McDermott, Bowman, Newton.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).