DELIGHTED Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett has warned the club’s iPro Sport Cup success must not distract them from their main goal – winning promotion to the Championship.

Paul March’s side clinched a thrilling 22-18 victory over York City Knights in the first game of the Summer Bash at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road last Saturday.

It was the club’s first-ever success in a knockout cup competition in their long history and Fawcett was thrilled.

He said: “It was the first time in 140 years of the club's history that we have ever won a final in a knock-out cup competition.

“That is a real achievement by our team and everyone at the club – fans, volunteers, management and players – should be proud of this.

“ Let's bask in the glory of lifting the iPro Sport Cup but not for too long.

“In November 2015 we were very clear with Marchy about the goals for this season – the number one objective is promotion.

“We said ‘go ahead and win the iPro if you can but not at the expense of the promotion’. The iPro must not be a distraction.”

Cougars largely dominated the game and Fawcett is seeking further improvement when Newcastle Thunder are the visitors on Saturday evening (6pm kick-off).

The game forms part of a Family Fun Day at Cougar Park, while the iPro Sport Cup will also be on display.

Fawcett added: “We controlled the game in large parts on Saturday and we deserved to win it.

“I think the game should have been put to bed in the first half such was the level of control we had but we didn't convert possession and position into points.

“This made it a very tense last 10 minutes which might be great for the neutral but was agony turned in a split second to ecstasy for the Cougars faithful!

“Going forward we need to be clinical, ruthless and turn periods of domination into points against the teams we are now going to come up against.

“The first one is Newcastle Thunder and, because of the slip-up in London the week before, we cannot rest on our laurels.

“When we kick off at 6pm this Saturday at Cougar Park we must convert the game into a win and back that up with the same at North Wales Crusaders the following week.

“The pressure is on and I am sure that the players and the coaching staff will respond to the pressure and deliver.”

The Family Fun Day starts at 3pm on Saturday with a BBQ, bouncy castle, big slide, face painting, children's disco and semi-professional wrestling on the pitch.

Just before the main event, there will be a curtain-raiser featuring Cramlington Rockets and Keighley Albion and a live band performing afterwards.

There will also be celebrations for director Simon Harrison, who turns 50 on Saturday.

Fawcett added: “Many happy returns Simon and I hope the boys deliver you a nice gift-wrapped win as a birthday present.”