CHORLEY Lynx's hopes of a flying start to the new season were grounded when they went down to a defeat against Featherstone.

Lynx battled to the end but the main difference between the sides was Jamie Rooney who only returned to Featherstone this week after a proposed move to a Super League outfit fell through at the last minute.

After the game Lynx coach Graeme West said: "I didn't expect too much as this was the first 80 minutes the players had played together as a team having used 25 players in each of the friendly games.

"I was disappointed with the first half performance. We failed to control the ball and were made to pay. But in the second half the players did themselves proud. The players that were left out were disappointed but it is a long season and they will all get their chance and it will be up to them to take it when selected."

Both teams started well and Lynx who opened the scoring with a Liam Jones penalty.

Lynx continued to impress and were unlucky in the ninth minute when Alan Redcliffe was pulled back for a forward pass when in the clear. Almost immediately Featherstone took the lead when a piece of individual brilliance from Jamie Rooney saw him cut through the Lynx defence for a fine try which he also converted.

Lynx were undone again in the 16th minute when Jim Carlton and Mall Bramald combined to send in Richard Newlove with Rooney again adding the conversion.

Featherstone were now controlling the game and they increased their lead four minutes later through Andy Baston and again Rooney added the extra points.

Lynx had a good spell of pressure but were unable to reduce the arrears and Jamie Rooney added a penalty and drop goal to give Fev a 21-2 half time advantage.

Early in the second half Lynx continued to pressurise the Rover's defence, and were rewarded when Richard Newlove spilled a cross field bomb and Paul Noone was quickest to react to touch down.

But hopes of reducing the deficit were dashed when that man Rooney again mesmerised the Lynx defence to send in Richard Newlove. Lynx had a try disallowed before Eddie Kilgannon reduced the arrears again.

This was followed by another drop goal from Rooney before Alan Redcliffe again gave Lynx a chance with a try in the 72nd minute converted by Liam Jones. Featherstone had the last word with a penalty from Jamie Rooney to seal a hard fought victory.

Chorley Lynx 16 Featherstone Rovers 28