Holt sticks boot into Cougars

10:42pm Friday 15th August 2008

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Barrow Raiders 22, Cougars 8

The boot of prolific points-scorer Darren Holt did most of the damage as the Cougars went down at promotion rivals Barrow.

The stand-off finished with 14 points, converting two tries, kicking four penalties and slotting a couple of second-half drop goals to frustrate Keighley.

Hopes of finishing third are now almost gone for Barry Eaton’s side, who were also cruelly denied a bonus point, leaving them hanging on to fourth place in National League Two.

Second-row Neil Lowe had given the visitors a positive start with a fifth-minute try, improved by Dan Potter, and Barrow were only level 6-6 at the break because of Holt’s accuracy.

They also had Mike Whitehead sin-binned moments before the interval but Keighley – missing first-choice half-backs Jon Presley and Danny Jones – could not take advantage.

Potter added a penalty goal on 44 minutes but Andy Ellis and James Nixon both crossed for Barrow when they returned to a full compliment to take control of the contest.

Holt tagged on the extras both times and then struck two quickfire drop goals around the hour mark, before adding his final penalty on 75 minutes – denying the visitors a bonus – to complete a league double over Keighley.

Cougars centre Ollie Pursglove failed his fitness test so Karl Smith was recalled for a rare appearance, while Eaton picked himself at scrum half because of his side’s injury problems.

Barrow strengthened their hold on second place and automatic promotion, while in tonight’s other contest Doncaster edged York City Knights 34-32.

Doncaster moved past York up to fifth – just a point behind Eaton’s men with a game in hand as the battle for play-off berths hots up.