CHORLEY LYNX ... 30 SWINTON LIONS ... 43: THE Lions cemented their place in the playoffs with a hard fought victory over The Lynx.

Phil Cushion gave the Lions a dream start when former Lynx favourite Mick Coates sent the prop storming through for the try to which Kris Smith added the goal points and it got even better in the sixth minute when Neil Hayden sent out a great pass to send Chris Maye racing away to score in the corner but Smith could not convert.

Sarfraz Patel slotted over a drop goal to stretch the Lions lead but Lynx hit back in the tenth minute when Brian Capewell crossed in the corner and added the goal points for good measure and they took the lead three minutes later when Martin Gambles sent up a bomb kick over the Lions line and Danny Arnold rose above Jason Roach to score in the corner and again Capewell added the goal points.

The lead swung back to the Lions a short time later when Maye broke the Lynx defence to send Wayne English over for an unconverted try, but again the Lynx hit back in the twenty-fifth minute when Danny Barton went over for a good try and Capewell goaled to put his side back in the driving seat. Capewell missed what seemed a simple penalty attempt three minutes later but Kris Smith made no mistake for the Lions with a similar effort on the half-hour.

Ian Hodson another former Lynx player in the Lions camp put his side back in the lead again with a try created by English but Smith again missed the goal kick. Lynx had two more chances to score before the break with Lee Paterson and Mick Redford both going close but it was the Lions who increased their lead on the stroke of half time when English put Hugh Thorpe over in the corner for a good try.

Lynx were first on the scoreboard in the second half when Capewell added a penalty goal in the forty-ninth minute. Eddie Killgannon was dispatched to the sin-bin in the fifty-sixth minute for holding down in the tackle and a minute later the official also sent Lions substitute Warren Ayres to the bin for the same offence. The Lions cut loose midway though the half when they ran in three more tries in a five minute period.

Rob Russell was first to score when he found a huge gap to out pace the defence and score in the corner to which he added a good conversion from the touchline. Rob Whittaker was next over the line when he scored with his first touch of the ball having got a good short pass from English and again Russell added the goal.

Maye scored his second of the night sixteen minutes from time when Ian Sinfield broke the Lynx defence to feed the speedy centre and as he touched down Capewell was sent to the bin by the official for kicking the ball away , Russell again added the goal points.

Lynx finished the game strongly and Arnold claimed his second twelve minutes from time when he reacted quicker than English to the loose ball to score in the corner and Chris Ramsdale added the goal points.

The final try came a minute from time when a player on loan from the Lions Grant Bithell dummied his way to the line but Capewell could not convert.

LIONS TEAM: English, Thorpe, Llewellyn, Maye, Roach, Coates, Hayden, Cushion, Patel, Sinfield, Smith, Russell, Hodson. Subs (all used): Ayres, Rogers, Gardner, Whittaker.