LANCASHIRE LYNX 18, WALNEY CENTRAL 6

LANCASHIRE Lynx made hard work of a challenge cup third round try against the famous Cumbrian amateurs.

But the gap between the professional and amateur games proved to be barely big enough for Lynx to squeeze through as the visitors kept the score tight for much of the game.

Walney had led early on through a Jason Zaccarini penalty and many observers thought a shock could be on the cards.

By that stage stand-off Jason Demetriou, the key Lynx man so far this season, had already sustained a broke thumb and he was struggling to exert his usual influence on the game before going off at half time. An unconverted try by on loan Phil Farrell, brother of Wigan and Great Britain skipper Andy, put Lynx ahead in the eighth minute and John-Paul Doherty's 23rd minute try gave them a cushion.

Shaken into action in the second half, Walney managed a try when scrum-half Ben Slater supported his forwards well to cross for a try 12 minutes into the second half, leaving his side just two points behind.

The visitors could smell victory, but Lynx centre Paul Rostance pounced on a loose ball close to the Walney line on 57 minutes and charged through the defence.

The Lynx crowd had barely finished breathing their sigh of relief when a break from inside their own half saw Doherty, Dave Smith and Neil Roden set up Mark Kay for the game's final try.

Lynx will be pleased with the opportunity to draw a big name from the Superleague in the next round, not to mention the gate of more than 500.

Coach Steve Hampson will not dwell on the injuries to several of his key players - or the fact that the bulk of the crowd travelled from Cumbria.

Lynx make the reverse trip next Sunday to take on Barrow Border Raiders, kick off 3pm.

ZFormer Lynx favoruite Neil Parsley scored on his debut for superleague hopefuls Warrington Wolvesin a friendly away at Fench club St Esteve

ZLynx centre Phil Knowles is tackled by Walney Central's Paul Managh

ZCrash! A big hit on Lynx winger Mark Kay

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.