COUGARS COMEBACK AS COUGAR PARK WINS THE DAY

KEIGHLEY COUGARS 26 LONDON SKOLARS 18
BET FRED LEAGUE 1 @ COUGARS PARK
27 MAY 2018 --- 3PM

COUGAR PARK AND THE DANNY JONES STAND

A much encouraged comeback from the Cougars who were 14-6 down at the half time hooter saw the noisy home fans will their team over the line and even after Neil Thorman had popped a penalty over for London to make it 16 all Cougars found enough to run out winners.  If your not into your rugby league please read on because at Cougar Park you have a ground to wax lyrically about and with a football connection too, wow.
Yesterdays exertions to Cheshire saw a mid morning start from base station and a rather full train arrived in Leeds 1 and 1/4 hours later with a few bank holiday revellers already on the sauce.  A dash down to platform 4 for the Skipton train which departed in 5 minutes or so at least it should have done but there was a delay with the drivers arrival pending still saw me in Keighley at around 1250pm though.  With just one previous visit to the town, that was a short stop before re joining the train to take in a Silsden game in the NWCFL, a quick circuit of the streets saw me decamp to The Livery Rooms a Spoons establishment.  Having secured a seat a surprise in itself on a Sunday lunchtime and ordering straight away I was looking forward to a chill for half an hour only to be told 'afraid we are out of fish' in a fit of pique I opted for the golden arches which is situated by the ground on Hard Ings Rd.  Most people who visit Macs are there for one of two things if your a child who cares about the meal just give me the toy and if your an adult its a McFlurry, counter order placed the colleague adds 'anything else?' in anticipation I added 'dairy milk McFlurry'.  It was then I realised Keighley was out of most things I like 'sorry we have no Ice Cream'.  What hottest day of year, well nearly, and no ice cream.
With Keighley Cricket Club nestled up to the walls of Cougar Park it looked at good place to spend an hour but amazingly on a Sunday afternoon in Yorkshire no game was taking place.

COUGAR PARK AWAITS

Having consumed the fast food delicacies a stroll around to Royd Ings Ave for the main entrance, there are a few turnstiles tucked away by the cricket club, reveals a town very much like any other in this mills area of Yorkshire.  Light stone terrace back to backs are in abundance with washing across lines and kids playing in the streets the rolling hills were resplendent in todays sunshine with the trees brushing aside all before them in todays blustery wind.
For the footy fan then Steeton Fc newly promoted to the new NWCFL 1 North will move to ground share at Cougar Park I believe next season moving from their village ground that sits the opposite side of the Skipton Rail line to Silsden, it does appear a strange move and although sees them leave their village Keighley is very close by.

THE LADIES ARE IN CHARGE VONIE JANE AND ANNA A WARM WELCOME TO COUGAR PARK

With a little time to move off the watch the option to walk around to the main Royd Ings Ave entrance which takes you via an industrial estate, I remain unsure if this was previously houses, and to the main entrance that is looking bright and smart and clearly has had a successful lick of paint.  While taking a few pictures on a selection of equipment it was then that I attracted the attention from inside the gate of the lovely Anna who when I approached the turnstile was there to greet me and offer a warm welcome to the club as I might add was my turnstile operator Jane.  Once into Cougar Park we got into a quick conversation about where the blog was from and we are joined by Vonie who made up the all female team of Turnstile operators at this end of the ground.  Anna was going to come outside for a picture but now inside what better than to take a picture of all three of the lovely ladies who offered such a warm welcome to Keighley Cougars, thank you!

MATCH PROGRAMME V LONDON SKOLARS

The ever popular draw tickets were purchased and a short while later the programme at £3 some rugby league clubs match day literature disappoints but lets just add its not the case here this is a cracking effort for those who like their paperwork full of colour and articles to read well done.  Also of note is another plus point an excellent public address system well heard all around the ground.
Once inside the whole sweet shop opens up because this is ground visiting gold a stadium with history, emotion and Yorkshire grit seeping from every inch of it.  This ground descriptor cannot do it justice there is so much to describe and added to many characters who watch the games here it was one of those afternoons that I spent with a smile on my face for the whole time at Cougar Park.
Immediately to the left is a modern covered terrace standing on the terrace which is adorned with a flag in memory of Cougars player and Welshman Danny Jones who tragically died in 2015 at an away game against todays visitors.  I remember the time when this happened and the coverage on local TV it was a very sad period which the club did everything admirably possible to assist his family and clearly here with the main stand named after him and a memorial to him this guy is still remembered and much loved.

EAST TERRACE JUST RIGHT FOR A WARM SUMMERS DAY

The far side terrace a stepped uncovered enclosure backed off with four floodlight poles of the rail/ pit yard variety and at the centre point two raised metal cabins with front viewing points which I guess were previously for video vantage points.  Sweeping around the corner a slightly shallower uncovered terrace which backs onto Hall Ings Rd and also offers an exit gate after the game leaving me nearer to the station.  Bringing us back to the business end  the main stand is very much of the old style with a deep set of seating, for which a transfer is payable on top of todays £15 ground entrance, this side this side also mirrors the four floodlights on the opposite side with two rising through the stand roof.  To the far side of the stand are the bars, hospitality area all topped off with that obscure green roof metal finish.

COUGAR ALERT

The descriptor doesn't do it justice you will find many wonderful areas of this ground including the cougar climbing half way up the one of the far side floodlights, the actual Cougar mascot himself pacing the ground, the old scoreboard with massive clock face that ticked away the 40 minutes of each half, sadly replaced now by a digital one.  While the mascot must have a massive shirt to get over his furry body the back of it is sponsored by a local butcher Herd's with the fantastic rhyming tag line Cougars Pies for Cougars tries. Todays referee added some interest for me with John McMullen an official who I'd seen a few times in his early days in The National Conference League latterly I remember a few years ago at East Leeds RLFC.

REFEREE MCMULLEN TAKES ON WATER

The game then and as rugby league is not my main sport apologies for the next few paragraphs of match coverage.  With Skolars in a lowly position in League 1 it was expected Cougars would win probably comfortably and there in lies the problem in any sport I guess.  The home side had a poor first half in a game which was littered with errors although in fairness the blustery swirling wind that was present all afternoon did not help the home sides kicking which were mainly from wide positions. 
Inside ten minutes Neil Thurman had gone over and added the extras before Cougars levelled it through Adam Ryder try and Matty Beharrell who converted.  The maximum adavantage was gained by Skolars again though when Ryan Burroughs popped over for Thurman to add the extra two points.  To add to Cougars difficulties that man Thurman converted a penalty at the front of the sticks right on the hooter.

PRE MATCH ROUTINES NOT MUCH WARMING UP NEEDED ON A HOT DAY

Within two minutes of the re start Thurman added too more with a penalty that made it 6-16 and it was looking like a difficult afternoon for the hoe side.  Step up Anthony Gabriel for the highlight moment gaining possession 90 metres away from the try line he set off moving into overdrive and outpaced all comers to go over in the corner, conversion wide in the left was missed but moments later Cougars were within two of the visitors.  Man of the match Brad Nicholson twisted out of Skolars grasp to go over the whitewash to make it 14-16,  it was Perry Whiteley who added a try that put Cougars into the lead before unbelievable the visitors levelled it up at 18 apiece through you know who thanks to a penalty kick. 
Vinny Finnigan was given 10 minutes with nearly that to go and with the reduction in numbers for Skolars it gave Cougars the push they needed to get over the line.

AT LAST I HEAR YOU SAY MATCH ACTION

Keighley were in the ascendancy and Gabriel went over for a second time even though there were terrace suspicions of a forward pass this time Beharell added the extras and at 24-18 there was light between the two sides in Cougars favour.  With moments to go Beharell chose to pop the penalty over for two point to make the game safe and secure a comeback that had looked far from certain at half time.

GROUND OF CHARACTER WITH A GROUND FULL OF CHARACTERS

Not only is this a ground of character but full of them too with many an old lad watching I guess many through their formative and latter years its also the women on the terrace that can be the most interesting for the people watchers amongst you.  Mr McMullen I guess with temporary hearing loss to any of these comments would not have been able to appreciate them but they like to give their considered thoughts and often with a fair few chosen descriptive words added, it all makes for the cracking watch that rugby league is.
Have I missed anything out on this?  I'm sure I have well your just going to have to go for a visit to this wonderful ground to see what there is to write home about and although Steeton will be there next season you really need to go for a Cougars game to experience it at full throttle, I don't think you will be disappointed.
Journey home was smooth enough if not packed, again, with added juiced up revellers in their mature years joining the train at Sheffield with thankfully a swift departure just after base station was arrived at just before 7.30pm.