Double success for Cougars

Keighley Cougars are celebrating their double recognition in May’s Championship One awards.

Head Coach Barry Eaton has been named as the Co-operative Championship One Coach of the Month and they have provided five players – the most by any club in the division – for the mythical Team of the Month.

Eaton took the award in spite of Dewsbury Rams’ pace-making performance for Warren Jowitt and a vastly improved placing for Graeme Hallas and Hunslet Hawks.

In the Team of the Month are centre Dan Potter, winger Gavin Duffy, scrum half Danny Jones, prop forwards Andy Shickell and Scott Law.

Cougars enjoyed a rewarding month in spite of a disappointing start when they were beaten 24-22 at York on May 4.  They went to beat Swinton Lions and Workington Town at home and Blackpool Panthers away to give May a better feel for the Cougars.

Helen Carter, the Cougars’ General Manager, said: “We’re really pleased to be recognised by the Co-operative in this way.

“Barry has done an outstanding job for us not only during May but ever since he was appointed. He’s had to pull out all the stops as we fought our way through a significant injury crisis and working without our Australian forward Brendon Rawlins, who is still waiting Down Under for the UK Border Agency to grant him a work permit.

“It is equally pleasing to see five of our players recognised with selection in the Co-operative Championship One Team of the Month and it further underlines the great work Barry and his coaching team are achieving with the players.”

Eaton added: “It’s a great honour for the Cougars to have so many players in the selection and very pleasing for me as the Head Coach because it means other people are recognising all the hard work that goes in here at Cougar Park. It’s also an honour on a personal basis.

“The players are a committed bunch of people and have pulled together throughout a difficult spell when we were beset with injuries to key forwards.”