COUGARS chairman Gary Fawcett is hoping history repeats itself this season as the club seek to maintain their rampant form and win promotion back to the Championship.

Paul March’s side are aiming to register their fourth straight win when the University of Gloucestershire All Golds arrive at Cougar Park on Sunday.

Cougars have responded in style to last month’s Challenge Cup exit at the hands of York City Knights by winning at Hunslet on Good Friday and dishing out back-to-back hammerings against Oxford in their past two outings.

March’s team battered Oxford 54-14 in the iPro Sport quarter-final on April 3 before a 70-10 win against the same opposition in a league encounter at Keighley last Sunday.

That resounding victory was Cougars’ biggest win since their promotion-winning season in 2011.

The previous time they racked up such a big score in 2003 also saw them win promotion and Fawcett is hoping the thumping win over Oxford serves as an omen for the weeks and months ahead.

He said: “After Sunday’s very good performance, it seemed a long time since we had a seven on the scoreboard.

“I asked our club historian John Pitchford when the last time was we had achieved or exceeded 70 points in a competitive game.

“It appears that the last time we scored 70 points or more was on July 3, 2011 at home against Gateshead, when we won 92-6.

“Amazingly, prior to that, we have to go back to March 9, 2003 when we scored 78 points to beat London Skolars at home.

“I don't like to read things into results too much but, any historian will tell you that in those two seasons we were promoted.

“As everyone knows, I'd very much like to replicate those feats this season.”

According to Fawcett, Cougars’ best is yet to come as they bid to lift the iPro Sport Cup in Blackpool next month and win promotion at the end of the season.

The Cougar Park chairman added: “On Sunday evening, I said to Marchy that it still looked like we had two or maybe three more gears still to come despite the scoreline.

“The team now looks like it has a good understanding and has gelled.

“Some of the tries we scored on Sunday were spectacular and there were quite a few performances that were outstanding, notably man of the match Paul Handforth.

“However, we must not get ahead of ourselves and, as we've learnt over the course of this season already, there is no substitute for hard work and the right attitude. This must continue.”

Cougars are set to be more or less full strength this weekend, with Sean Kelly the only notable absentee as he recovers from an ACL injury.

* Cougars have announced a partnership with VLUK that from September 1 will see places offered to 16 to 18-year-olds who wish to take a different path to get into university.

Under the Sport & Education Scholarship at Keighley Cougars Rugby League Academy, students will undertake a two-year BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport which is the equivalent to three A-Levels.

The course will provide opportunities to achieve coaching, refereeing and sports leadership certificates.

And it is a chance to learn in a professional club training environment, while also playing competitive sport on a regular basis.

The scheme is now open to male and female applicants with a minimum of five GCSEs A to C including English and Maths.

For more information and to apply, email info@keighleycougars.com.