At five past three, however, it all looked very different: an eminently predictable Barry Eaton penalty and a try out wide by Nixon saw Keighley sneak a shock lead. But Hornets were back on terms within four minutes when Dave McConnell jinked through after good appproach work from the Hornets pack.

On the next foray into Cougars' territory, more good forward play from Ryan 'Benjy' Benjafield and Matt Sturm - 'inator' took the ball close to the home side's line. Tommy Goulden showed good vision and strength to mug Keighley from a yard.

Hornets looked to have worked another try on the next posession, but Matt Firth's pinpoint flat ball to Lee 'Pogo' Patterson was adjudged forward as the Hornets centre accelerated into open field.

It was a rare moment of lucid football in the opening exchanges. Phil Farrell playing in the problem out-half position worked hard, but looked uncomfortable picking his passes at speed. And with Hornets struggling to hang onto the ball beyond the second tackle, Keighley capitalised on the free possession.

On 20 minutes, the Cougars shipped the ball smartly to thhe left flank, and quick hands in traffic slotted Bramald in wide out. Eaton's robotic leg addded the extras and Keighley had their noses back in front at 12-10.

With the game peppered by knock-ons and stupid penalties (Hornets were penalised thhree times in possession for playing the ball incorrectly) both sides strugled to gain any real momentum, but when Chris Giles gathered a Barry Eaton chip after 35 minutes and picked a peach of a pass out of the tackle to Patterson, Pogo left the cover for dead; sprinting 80 metres up the Lawkholme slope to score. McCullly added the goal and, with a penalty kicked as the hooter sounded, sent Hornets in an unconvincing 18-12 up at half time.

If it's the 15 minutes of half time where good coaches really earn their money, Darren Abram showed us how it's done. Hornets came out for the second half a completely different proposition. Playing a faster, more direct game - and with an obvious brief to hang onto the ball - Hornets were underway from the whistle. On 42 minutes Phil Farrell's 'show and go' took him through a flat-footed defence; on 45 minutes Mark McCully found himself on the end of some frenetic last tackle handling to score in the corner; on 51 minutes a Matt Firth dink into the in-goal bobbled teasingly enough for Dave McConnell to capitalise. Hornets rapidly vanishing into the distance.

On the hour Tommy Goulden was, again, the right man in the right place as he straightened up a close range attack to score; three minutes later good strong running from Richard Varkulis - teed up by more good forward play from a now rampant Hornets pack - saw him grab a deserved try.

With Keighley visibly wilting, Phil Cantillion created havoc in the last 20 minutes; his trademark scoots punching big holes in the Cougars' defence. And it was a typical Cantillon break that opened up the home side on 75 minutes, McCully backing up to score.

But credit to Keighley - they continued to work the ball upfield and, with the hooter imminent, Stephenson crunched in from close range to provide consolation.

So, a resounding win. Despite a stuttering first half perfomance and the overall feel of a team trying to establish its shape and rhythm, Hornets had too much pace and power for a game Cougars side that should learn much from this group that will stand them in good stead in NL2.

Hornets man on the match was, again, Tommy Goulden. His appetite for involvement gives the whole pack a boost - and it's a momentum that all four of the Hornets props on display took full advantage of.

And with Halifax's resounding win at Oldham, the game at the Shay next week looks set to be another cracker.