Cougars aim to finish fourth

3:50pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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Keighley Cougars go into their final game of the season tomorrow night looking to wrap up fourth place in National League Two.

The Cougars travel south to take on Londan Skolars in a match which kicks off at 6.30pm.

Keighley need to win and hope Doncaster lose to secure fourth spot in the division.

If the Cougars finish fourth, they would play third place team Oldham in the play-offs. If Keighley win that one, they would reach the Grand Final, the winner of that contest is promoted to National League One.

If the Cougars lose they would play the winner of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth place play-off teams. Should they lose at the Skolars, they would finish fifth and the road to the Grand Final would be much harder.

Doncaster won 40-20 at home to Barrow on Wednesday. They finish at home to Hunslet on Sunday.

If both Keighley and Doncaster win, Doncaster would finish fourth, based on a better points difference unless Keighley would happen to beat the Skolars by more than 100 points.

Eaton said: "It's unrealistic to expect that. We need Doncaster to lose.

"Regardless of what happens we're still delighted with the way the season's gone."

"We had a mid-season blip where we lost a few games. All the doubters were saying we were flash in pan but we overcame it and have been pretty consistent.

"I'd like to improve a little bit as we weren't too good against Hunslet. Because of London's place near the bottom of the table, they can go out and enjoy themselves and play without pressure or fear.

"But if we play our game, I fully expect to beat them."

Eaton almost has a full squad to pick from, however, Oliver Pursglove (shoulder) and Jon Presley (oblique muscle) face late fitness tests.

The Cougars have cancelled Mick Fogerty's contract with immediate effect. The centre, who has missed most of the season with a wrist injury, has not been offered a new deal for 2009 and Eaton opted to release him now. A potent strike player, Oldham-based Fogerty failed to establish himself again following his recent return and struggled to attend training.