DESPITE putting up another excellent second half showing, Chorley Lynx slipped to another narrow defeat at the hands of Keighley Cougars.

This is a game Lynx could have won, but a poor first half showing, where a combination of poor handling and needless penalties being given away contributed to all three Keighley tries.

Lynx started well, kicking down the slope and were rewarded in the sixth minute with a penalty from Liam Jones.

Keighley, assisted by some dreadful handling errors put Lynx's defence under constant pressure. This finally told in the 11th minute when Oliver Wilkes touched down, Paul Ashton adding the conversion.

Lynx's game continued to be error-strewn as they struggled to break out of their own half.

They fell further behind when a needless penalty was given away ended up with Wilkes again touching down, with Ashton again adding the conversion.

Lynx then had their best spell of the half, but were unable to make any inroads into the deficit and they were made to pay again in the 34th minute when Paul Ashton went over in the corner to put the home side 14 points ahead.

On the stroke of half time Lynx finally reduced the arrears when substitute Paul Noone managed to pass the ball out in the tackle to Matt Bellamy who ran forty metres to touch down in the corner. This went unconverted to leave the half time score at 16-6 to Keighley.

The second half started with Lynx showing much better ball control, but fell further behind with a penalty from Paul Ashton, as again Lynx's discipline was found wanting.

Lynx were looking good going forward but they were caught on the break when speedy wingman Craig Horne split the Lynx defence, before sending Matt Firth over to give Keighley a comfortable 18 points' advantage.

But the home side continued to show plenty of spirit and almost immediately they were back in the game when Paul Noone powered over.

Four minutes later Lynx reduced the deficit even further when good play by Lee Prest and Lee Birdseye opened the way for Phil Harrison to touch down, with Liam Jones adding the conversion.

Despite having much of the play, Lynx were unable to break down the Keighley defence, again leaving them trailing by just six points at the final hooter.

Keighley Cougars 22 Chorley Lynx 16