CHORLEY Lynx improved league form continued at Victory Park with a hard fought victory over Gateshead Thunder.

A depleted Lynx outfit fully deserved their victory and the points margin would have been much greater but for a string of missed opportunities especially in the first half.

Following the victory Lynx coach Darren Abram said: "The new players we have brought in played very well, especially Eric Andrews and Jamie Stenhouse.

"They showed what a lethal weapon we could have on the left when they know each others game.

"I will take the positives from the game and build on them and the negatives are there to work on.

"We had a lull in the second half which was to be expected with four new players in the squad and we let them back in the game but we scored some good tries and deserved to win."

Match report- LYNX had all the early play and were rewarded with tries in the sixth and eighth minutes from Andy Parker and Eric Andrews.

Both tries owed much to the play of Jamie Stenhouse, Mark McCully adding a conversion for an early ten point advantage.

A strong Lynx defence denied the visitors any try scoring opportunities and they extended their lead with a Mark McCully penalty in the 22nd minute as they again began to dominate proceedings.

Lynx were always dangerous on the attack and came close in the 31st minute when Jamie Stenhouse was held on his back over the Gateshead try line. A minute later Anton Garcia touched down to give Lynx a 16 point advantage.

Gateshead finally got on the scoreboard two minutes from the interval when a missed tackle in defence allowed Adam Thornton a free run to the try line and this was converted by Paul Thorman to leave Lynx with a 16-6 half time advantage.

Lynx soon extended their lead with two tries within three minutes of the restart.

Firstly Eric Andrews picked up a ball deep in defence and he went almost the length of the field to touch down and this was followed two minutes later with a try from Jamie Stenhouse both converted by Mark McCully to give Lynx a 22 point advantage.

But the expected points avalanche never materialised as Gateshead put Lynx defence under severe pressure.

Their reward came after 50 minutes with a try from Scott MacDougall followed on the hour mark with one from Andy Walker, both converted by Paul Thorman to leave them just ten points adrift.

This was as close as the visitors got as Mick Coates slipped over a drop goal with five minutes remaining and from the restart the same player scored a fine individual try for the Lynx who were worthy winners.

Final score: Chorley Lynx 33 Gatehead Thunders 18