Cougars 27-26 Toulouse Olympique
The Cougars won in dramatic fashion on Saturday night as they grasped victory in the final seconds of the game. 
The game started well for the Cougars who scored on the 2nd minute when James Hutchinson knocked a high ball down for Tom Burton to score, Danny Jones adding the conversion.
It took Toulouse 20 minutes to get on the score sheet when Nathan Wynn’s grubber kick was pounced on by Tony Gigot, the touch judges then gave Wynn the conversion making it 6-6.
Five minutes later the Cougars scored a perfect try which saw Wray pass to Jones to Presley to Rawlins then back to Presley who sent Tom Burton in for his second try of the game, the try being acknowledged by ‘League Weekly’ as the try of the week. Jones missed the conversion.
Brendon Rawlins soon powered over for the Cougars, Jones adding the extras taking it to a 16-6 lead for the home side. But Toulouse were quick to respond, Sebastian Payan finding a gap in the Cougars defence, Wynn adding the two points.
Just before the half time whistle blew the Cougars were awarded a penalty, Danny Jones kicking the penalty goal from 30 meters out which made it 18-12 as half time struck.
Toulouse came out fighting in the second half and Nathan Wynn scored and then converted for the visitors. 18-18. Cougars tried to break through with Gav Duffy who was dragged into touch as he went close to scoring.
Danny Jones was sin-binned in the 50th minute giving Toulouse a one man advantage, the French side made the most of it and scored six minutes later through Carlos Mendes Varela, Wynn converted putting Toulouse in front for the first time in the game, 18-24. Toulouse were then given a penalty which Wynn kicked successfully, 18-26.
On the 68th minute Tom Burton made a break and passed to Hutchinson to score. Jones missed the conversion making it 22-26. In the final ten minutes the Cougars applied pressure and with six minutes to go Jones passed out wide to Duffy who crossed the whitewash, Jones crucially missing the extras putting the scores level at 26-26.
The Cougars knew what they had to do, they had done it away at Sheffield they could do it again. With a minute to go the Cougars worked their game plan and gained ground with every pass, they saw their chance and passed to scrum half Danny Jones who was ready with the drop goal. His winning point was met with rapturous applause giving the Cougar faithful a glimmer of hope. 
Cougars Team: Belcher, Duffy, Baines, Burton, Hutchinson, Presley, Jones, Shickell, Feather, Benjafield, Cartledge, Pursglove, Nicholson Subs: Wray, Hughes, Law, Rawlins
Toulouse Team: Bromley, Mendes, Duport, Planas, Payan, Houles, Wynn, Worth, Gay, Mencarini, Maria, Larroyer, Anselme Subs: Pelo, Gout, Herold, Gigot
After the match Head Coach Barry Eaton had the following to say:
“It was a good result against Toulouse and we hung in there in a similar way to the win at Sheffield earlier in the season.”
“We played well in the first half but handed it to them on a plate in the second half until we snatched it back late on.”
“It was all or nothing because, if we’d lost, although it wouldn’t have been mathematically impossible to stay up, the task would have been massive. Now we’re still in there fighting.”
“The last couple of months we have been playing well enough to be in there with a chance of winning any game.”
The Cougars are away at Batley next Sunday, 3pm Kick Off
Thanks to all 17 players for such a tremendous effort - although Will Cartledge deservedy won man of the match, I thought Tom Burton ran him very close indeed, a truly tireless effort despite that early error, bring it on again against Batley!