We gratefully accepted as Danny Wood - aided by a swooping drop goal from Danny Sculthorpe - kicked us into a handy lead. Scully - ably assisted by Andy Ireland - led from the front as Hornets drove the Cougars back down the slope time and time again, severely restricting their attacking options and frustrating both team and supporters as Keighley struggled to make any real ground. The only clear try-scoring chance fell to Marlon Billy almost on the half time hooter. The ball was shipped quickly through hands on the last tackle and Marlon crashed through his opposite number to score.
Home and away fans rubbed their eyes in disbelief - Hornets had ground out an 11-0 half-time lead. Of course, the infamous Lawkholme slope is always a major factor and our suspicions that eleven might not be enough looked accurate as first Wood and then Lee scored almost identical kick through and touchdown tries. Both were converted by the awakened Martin Wood and at 12-11 it appeared that normal service had been resumed.
But Hornets responded in commendable fashion taking the ball back up the hill and the game back to the Cougars. Quick handling again found McHugh on the right flank and he flung himself in for his first four pointer to give Hornets the lead again at 15-12. Then came two decisive moments. A rampaging Keighley attack which saw the ball planted over the line from a neat reverse pass came to nought as the touch judge called play back for a forward pass, then - heading back upfield - Calland stabbed a neat grubber in behind the Keighley winger who coughed the ball up over his own line under pressure from Calland and Billy for the latter to gather and touch down. 21-12 with the conversion - and daylight between the sides.
With increasing desperation Keighley chased the game. A neat kick through by Ramshaw was gathered and touched down by Antonik and at 21-16 with five minutes remaining, a comfortable lead was suddenly a bedwetting finish. Both McHugh and Billy got in the Cougars line to cut out try-certain passes, but with the minutes draining away Keighley conceded what was possibly the most stupid penalty of the night in front of their own posts for Danny Wood to restore a two score advantage. But Hornets never let us off lightly and the dying minutes saw Keighley's Hughes scoot in at the corner. But that was that. Most of the 1,533 supporters were on their way home long before the hooter, while the small, but noisy Hornets contingent celebrated a quite superb victory.
So, as the Cougar fans adjust their view to embrace defeat and Leigh and Dewsbury fans think we're wonderful, we reflect on a great night. Hornets weren't fantastic - they were gutsy, hardworking and persistent. But sometimes games like that are worth ten running and passing exhibitions. To grind a team like Keighley down and not break when bent under pressure says much for the character of the players.
Commendations too to the travelling Hornets supporters. Whittled to the bone by work commitments and the curse of geography, the loyal few that made the trip echoed the performance on the field. Not bowed by weight of numbers they gave their all, putting in a passionate performance. All-in-all all good night for the club - and I got all this way without mentioning Sneakin Deakin once. Oh, bugger!