Powergen Challenge Cup: Chorley Lynx 54 Lokomotiv Moscow 6

CHORLEY LYNX paid a heavy price for their third round Powergen Challenge Cup 10-try romp over the Russian league and cup holders at a waterlogged Victory Park as they lost key man Rob Smyth to a suspected broken fibula.

Smyth, a close season recruit from Super League side Warrington, was forced off midway through the second half and now faces a lengthy lay-off. That injury cast a shadow over Mark Lee's delight in his first win since becoming Lynx coach.

Lynx fell 6-0 behind to a strong and physical Moscow side before gradually asserting their authority on a rain-swept evening with referee Steve Ganson only giving the go-ahead for the game 25 minutes before kick-off. Lee's men built an 18-6 interval lead and then played with impressive fluidity, especially considering the conditions, to score seven unopposed second half tries.

"We expected them to start strongly, especially with two New Zealand A team props in their ranks and the weather was a big leveller," Lee said. "But after the first 20 minutes we adapted well. Collectively we worked hard in defence and that was really pleasing and we got smarter with the ball.

"We didn't know a great deal about them so it was a trip into the unknown for my players but the gulf in class eventually told."

Lokomotiv hooker Roman Ovichinnikov scored the opening try from a clever kick through by scrum-half Denis Nikolskiy to threaten an upset before Lynx scrum-half Martin Gambles took command. Gambles linked impressively with fullback Lee Patterson to score in the corner before sending Chris Newall over from the scrum base. Brian Capewell, who ended with 18 points from a try and seven goals from 11 attempts, then re-gathered his own kick to score in the corner.

The second half was virtually one-way traffic as the visitors, playing their first game on grass for three months due to the ravages of the Russian winter, faded. Patterson's solo 60-metre try set up Lynx for a dominant closing quarter.

Lynx left-winger Gary O'Regan crossed for two tries, the outstanding Newall added two more to complete his hat-trick and Gambles, for his second, and sub Mick Redford all crossed as Lynx, despite losing Smyth, finished in command.

"We are learning all the time," insisted Moscow coach Eugeni Klebanov. "In a year's time we will be almost there and in two year's time we will be there."

Chorley Lynx: Patterson; Lacey, Capewell, Kilgannon, O'Regan; Smyth, Gambles; Hill, Murray, Parry, G Smith, Jones, Newall. Subs (all used): Alexander, Redford, S Smith, Roden.

Lokomotiv Moscow: Logovnuv; Zagoski, Ovtchinnikov, Postnikov, Baskakov; Gavrilin, Nikolskiy; Pelense, Ovichinnikov, Wilson, Iliassov, Lysenkov, Boujoukov. Subs (all used): Koltykhov, Chkhokvasze, Izmailov, Tcherevichni.

Referee: Steve Ganson (St Helens)

Attendance: 521.

Scorers: Lynx: Tries: Newall 3, Gambles 2, O'Regan 2, Capewell, Patterson, Redford. Goals: Capewell 7. Moscow: Try; Ovichinnikov; Goal: Nikolskiy.