MATCH INFORMATION
WEST WALES RAIDERS v KEIGHLEY COUGARS - BETFRED LEAGUE ONE ROUND SIX
SATURDAY 6TH APRIL - 3PM KICK OFF
STEBONHEATH PARK - LLANELLI - SA15 1EY
REFEREE - MR AARON MOORE (WIGAN)
ADMISSION:
ADULT - £10 (GRANDSTAND); £7 (GILBERT LLOYD STAND)
CONCESSIONS - £6 (GRANDSTAND); £3 (GILBERT LLOYD STAND)
JUNIORS (12-17) - £6 (GRANDSTAND); £3 (GILBERT LLOYD STAND)
UNDER 12's - FREE
TICKETS CAN BE BOUGHT IN ADVANCE THROUGH: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/venueplan/onjrSaWhLtBb
LINNERS: "TAKE CUP FORM INTO THE LEAGUE"
CRAIG Lingard has spoken of the need to back up a fantastic Challenge Cup performance with a win at strugglers West Wales Raiders in League One on Saturday.
The coach's Keighley Cougars side exited the competition after a valiant effort in a narrow 14-12 loss to local rivals Bradford Bulls.
Lingard's said he was proud of his players, but insists the focus is now on shifting that strong performance into the league and admits he isn't "bothered" about dropping out of the cup.
He said: "We've got what we wanted out of that game. We got a real good crowd down there, we probably got some new supporters and returning supporters who've not been down there for quite a while.
"I'm hoping they've enjoyed what they've seen and they're going to come back again. We put a performance in against a really tough Championship side and we pushed them close.
"I've said before, it's not a defeatist attitude, but it's a realistic one: we're not going to win the cup, it's just the way it is."
Attention now turns to a crunch tie against West Wales Raiders who has lost five in five so far this season.
Lingard is keen not to let his side become complacent, after competing all the way with Championship opponents on Sunday.
He likened the scenario to top football sides who have a league and European cup game in quick succession and how it's rare for sides to get a win in both.
The coach added: "We know the importance of backing up a big game, like we played against Bradford.
"We're certainly not going down to there thinking we've just to turn up to win, because if we do that, we're going to get beat."
A number of Cougars players have been battered and bruised from the Bulls tie, but the team are switched on to the importance of a long trip to play the Raiders.
Their hosts are yet to bag a point and sit one place above the Cougars who could claw the deficit to a surmountable five points with a win.
Lingard said: "We're just really focused on getting to this zero as soon as we can.
"I think with the way that we're playing, the way that we're performing and the atmosphere that we've created within the club and within the team, we're really confident in getting these points knocked of really quickly.
"It's going to be difficult once we've done that, but we'll reassess where we are, see how many games we've got left and see how many points are available to us and we'll have a good dig to try get in those play-offs.
"First and foremost, we've got to try and get into plus points as soon as we possibly can."
TEAM NEWS
Linners brings in new signing Matt Nicholson into the 19 man squad after he turned out for the Reserves on Wednesday evening.
Lewis Wray come back into the side after turning out for Wakefield's reserves side in midweek after recovering from the neck injury that forced him from the field against North Wales a fortnight ago.
James Feather (Groin) is forced out of the side after failing a fitness test at training on Thursday night.
Jason Muranka (Heel) also misses out through injury where he joins Jamie Thackray and Alex Williams (Both Hamstring) on the treatment table.
Harvey Hallas is unavailable for selection this weekend as is fellow loanee Jimmy Beckett.
COUGARS: Arnold; Bailey; Cooke; Coventry; Cullimore; Dixon; Gaylor; Hallett; Hardcastle; Levy; Lynam; Miller; Million; Moran; Nicholson; Parker; Seeley; Welham; Wray.
Raiders Head Coach Kim Williams has made a little number of changes to the side that were bravely defeated by Whitehaven a fortnight ago.
Dalton Desmond-Walker comes back into the squad following suspension with Sam Baker and Chris Vitalini dropping out from the team that were defeated by Haven.
French winger Mickael Sabour also comes into the squad with homegrown products Dan Maiden and Patrick Jennings also hoping to force their way into the matchday 17.
RAIDERS: Bateman; Connor; Cowburn; Desmond-Walker; Herron; Hunt; M Jennings; P Jennings; Kaye; Kislingbury; Maiden; Palumbo;. Parker; Rice-Wilson; Sabour; Shallish; Silver; Snook; Tuliatu.
LYNAM TESTIMONIAL "MASSIVELY DESERVED"
JOSH Lynam's decade of service to Keighley Cougars is to be rewarded with a testimonial year.
The club announced yesterday that the second rower had been granted a 12-month testimonial by the RFL in celebration of his time with the Cougars.
Lynam is a local lad who came through the Keighley youth system and has been there ever since.
Current Cougars boss Craig Lingard expressed his delight at the announcement and added he's happy players still feel committed to Keighley, as Lynam follows in the footsteps of James Feather and Brendon Rawlins.
He said: "It's massively deserved, he's a bit like a James Feather really, he's a Keighley lad, he's as loyal as they come and he's somebody that you need in your team.
Lingard is particularly impressed with how Lynam has stepped it up another gear this season.
He said: "He's played over 100 first team games, so again, he's not a young kid anymore, he's an experienced guy.
"I just thought the next stage in Josh's development was stepping up to be a leader and we've made him vice-captain this year and that bit of responsibility has just taken him to the next level for us.
"The workrate that he's got and the attitude that he has to developing his game. He's always asking questions, he's always wanting to improve, and he's always wanting to do his best for the team.
"The testimonial that he's got is well deserved. There's not many people that are as loyal to clubs nowadays.
"People will drift off, or spend a year or two at one club and then go on somewhere else, so there's not a massive amount of people that have testimonials now."
On the flip side, Lingard adds that loyalty, like that shown by Lynam, always deserves to be recognised.
He said: "I don't think it's rewarded, it's a little bit like your banks and your telephone companies and your internet companies, your own customers and your own players I suppose you take them for granted a little bit.
"Then another team will come calling and they'll offer them a bit more money and then they generally go.
"So I think people need to look after their own players a little bit more and reward them for longer service while they're down there.
"One of those rewards is a testimonial, which Josh has got, so once that testimonial kicks in I'm sure that the people and public of Keighley will get behind him and give him plenty of rewards over that 12 months."
COUGARS SIGN TAYLOR PRELL
Keighley Cougars are today delighted to announce the signing of the highly rated winger Taylor Prell.
Prell joins the Cougars following his departure from Super League side Warrington Wolves and has signed a two year deal that will see him stay at Cougar Park until the conclusion of the 2020 season.
A Silsden native, Taylor came through the youth system at Rugby Union outfit Yorkshire Carnegie where his impressive performances saw him make his senior debut aged just 18 and would go on to make 34 appearances for Carnegie.
Whilst with the Headingley based Union club, Prell also earned international recognition with both the England Under 18 and Under 20's sides.
Taylor spent two seasons with Warrington after joining the club initially on trial after catching the eye of the then Wolves coach Tony Smith.
However, following the arrival of Steve Price following Smith's departure, the winger was unable to break into the Wolves first team and had spells on loan with North Wales and with Rochdale on dual registration.
Taylor then departed the Halliwell Jones Stadium following the expiration of his contract and has now signed with the Cougars after training with the club during March.
Speaking about our latest recruit, Head of Rugby Gary Moorby said: "We are excited to have secured the signing of 22 year old Taylor.
"He has an impressive pedigree in rugby union having played at international level for England.
"We are confident he will fit in well with the future plans at Cougar Park, as a winger or fullback he is a great addition to the squad"
Taylor has been allocated the number 31 jersey for the remainder of this season. If you would like to sponsor Taylor, then please contact the club.