Shickell bags hat-trick of a different kind

4:25pm Monday 6th October 2008

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Robust prop Andy Shickell cleaned up at the Cougars' presentation night, bagging three of the main accolades.

Ex-Halifax man Shickell topped a huge debut season with Keighley by hoisting KC Club’s Cougar Player, the Cougar Players’ Player of the Year and the club’s Player of the Year.

He was also the only Cougar named in the Co-op National League Two team of the year, having delivered some monster performances up front for Barry Eaton’s side.

“I thought I might have a chance of winning one of them,” said the 27-year-old.

“But to win three is just amazing and I’m stunned.

“It’s been a great season for me and I’m really enjoying playing rugby with the Cougars.

“There’s a great family atmosphere at the club and we’ve had an encouraging year.”

Meanwhile, Eaton has continued his team-strengthening for 2009 with the capture of hard-hitting Featherstone Rovers loose forward Carl Hughes.

“I’ve been chasing Carl for the last 12 months and I’m delighted that he has agreed to join us,” said the coach.

“He’s a great attacking back-rower and will give our go-forward game a bit more bite.

“I tried to sign him on loan a couple of times but just missed out both times.

“But now we’ve managed to sign him on a full-time basis and it’s great news.”

Keighley have also tied down impressive winger Ryan Smith to a new contract after the youngster enjoyed a breakthrough season with the club.

Eaton said: “Ryan is one of the players we really wanted to keep at the club.

“Now I’m hoping that we can persuade some of the other out-of-contract players to stay with us too.”

Chris Redfearn, Greg Nicholson, Richard Knight and Craig Fawcett are all mulling over offers to re-sign but Eaton admits he is still talking to more than a dozen other players as well.

Meanwhile, long-serving centre Karl Smith, 31, has decided to retire from the game but the Cougars have approached the RFL for him to be granted a benefit like Matt Foster earlier this year.

“Karl’s been a great servant over a long time to the Cougars and we shall miss him,” Eaton said.

“We’ve applied to the League for a testimonial, and if they given permission for it to go ahead we hope the fans will support this great club servant”.

* Other awards at Cougars’ presentation night - Reserve Grade Clubman of the Year: Danny Snowden; Reserve Grade Players’ Player of the Year: Danny Belcher; Wilson Memorial Trophy for outstanding young Reserve Grade Player of the Year: James Haythornthwaite; the Reserve Grade ‘Man of Steel’: David Emmett; the Reserve Grade Player-of-the-Year: Luke Sutcliffe; Cougars’ Clubman of the Year: Keith Bower; Try of the Year: Dan Potter: Top Try Scorer with 17 for the season: Jon Presley; Most Improved Player of the Year: Oliver Pursglove; Supporters’ Player of the Year: Brendan Rawlins; Supporter of the Year: Andy Wade