Swinton Lions 18 v Keighley Cougars 20: Thrilling Cougars comeback keeps title dream alive

The Cougars, beaten in their previous three away matches, trailed 12-8 at half-time but responded in fine fashion to edge the second half 12-6 to leave the title race wide open.

Hosts Swinton are now six points ahead of their arch-rivals and remain favourites to secure the title with three games remaining in the season, but their first home defeat of the season has left an intriguing finish with nine points still up for grabs.

Two tries from ‘birthday boy’ Craig Moss were crucial for the visitors as they showed plenty of bottle to come back from behind to clinch victory, their second over the Lions this season following a 35-30 win at Cougar Park in May.

“I thought our attitude and enthusiasm was excellent,” praised Cougars’ player-coach Jason Demetriou.

“We were really dumb at times and tried to shoot ourselves in the foot, but defensively I thought we were outstanding.”

Phil Joseph opened the scoring for the hosts and Alex Hurst was also on the scoresheet in the first half, with Ian Mort scoring two conversions to become the club’s highest-ever points scorer in a season with his 90th and 91st goals respectively.

James Feather and Moss were on target for the Cougars, but neither of their tries was converted as they trailed by four points at the break.

But the second half was a different story and Oliver Pursglove bagged his fifth try of the season and Moss scored his fifth, with Chris Baines adding the extras.

Joesph had a ‘try’ controversially disallowed at 18-12 down, but Andy Gorski – who earlier had stitches for a nasty head wound – scored a good try and Ian Mort made sure of the conversion.

However, there was still a late twist in the tale as Gavin Dodd conceded a penalty 15 yards from his own try-line and Baines stepped up to clinch a breathtaking victory with a solid kick with only two minutes left.

Swinton: Mort, Reay, Dodd, Hurst, Foxen, M. Ainscough, Ashall, W. Thompson, M. Smith, Wingfield, Cunniffe, Gorski, Joseph. Substitutes: R. Hawkyard, D. Hawkyard, Meekin, Morrison.

Keighley Cougars: Halley, Moss, Sagar, Normington, Duffy, Demetriou, Smith, Shickell, Feather, Law, Cartledge, Pursglove, Nicholson. Substitutes: Wray, Rawlins, Baines, Jones.

Referee: George Stokes (RFL).

Huddersfield Giants have signed explosive Papua New Guinea second-row Jason Chan from Crusaders on a three-year contract.

Chan, 27, had already been earmarked by the Giants before Crusaders’ demise last week and will bolster their back-row options with the likes of Luke O’Donnell, and Dale Ferguson.

French back-row Samy Masselot, the 22-year-old triallist who arrived at Wakefield from Villeneuve earlier this year, has earned a 12-month contract with the Wildcats.