SUPPORTERS of the Keighley Cougars’ campaign against their controversial relegation have brewed up a storm of protest to help the embattled club.

A Cross Roads-based insurance company that sponsors the rugby league outfit donated a nine-gallon cask of ale dubbed ‘Justice’ to raise money for the club’s legal challenge.

The ale was produced by Bridgehouse Brewery, using a recipe the insurance business staff had come up with during a beer festival earlier this year.

Cougars players, managers and fans are furious Kingstone Press Championship relegation rivals Batley Bulldogs were not docked points for fielding an ineligible player during a victory against Sheffield Eagles in July.

The points deduction was initially implemented but later overturned on appeal – a decision that led to the Cougars’ relegation to Championship One.

The Justice beer, which is a 5.6 per cent strength Indian pale ale, was donated by insurance firm G Moore and Co.

The company is a club shirt sponsor and also backs one of the team’s players. Some of the ale was sold at the Cougars’ awards evening last Thursday.

Club chairman, Gary Fawcett, said: “G Moore and Co are valued supporters of Keighley Cougars – they go the extra mile as both fans and sponsors, and this donation demonstrates the extent to which they get behind the club.

“Some of the ale was being drunk last night at our players’ presentation evening, which went down very well. We had an excellent turnout.”

G Moore and Co office manager, Scott Wilkins, said it was his idea to donate the Justice ale cask to the Cougars. He also came up with the beer’s name.

“We know the Cougars have a legal fight on their hands, and they’re raising funds to meet the costs,” he added. “There are four of us at our company – me, Jason Moore, Ian Thornber and James Bailey – who all attend the Cougars’ home games.”

Reacting to the decision to overturn the Batley Bulldogs points deduction, he said: “I don’t understand why they have these rules if they don’t then penalise the clubs that break or bend them.”

Simon Lamb, of Bridgehouse Brewery, said the insurance company’s formula for their Justice ale was the winning recipe in a competition held at Airedale Beer Festival, an event which is organised each year by the brewery, based at the Airedale Heifer.

He added: “The winning team was able to have its recipe brewed by ourselves, and then received a cask of their own beer, together with some bottled beer.

“We got in touch with G Moore and Co last week to tell them their beer was ready, and they said they would like to donate the cask to the Cougars.”

lWhat do you think? E-mail richard.parker@keighleynews.co.uk or write to the Keighley News, 80-86 North Street, Keighley BD21 3AG.