CHORLEY put up a brave fight against the French Cup holders Union Treiziste Catalane at Victory Park but found their rivals had just a touch too much class in the Challenge Cup fourth round clash.

France international full-back Renaud Guigue proved to be the man to undo the brave Lynx.

His opportunism and attacking abilities tested the Lynx defence to the full.

Guigue chipped in with a hat-trick of tries after winger Patrice Gomez had scored the opening touchdown after 24 minutes, Gomez adding two goals.

Chorley, who had taken the lead through Liam Jones' penalty, fought back with a try from full-back Chris Ramsdale early in the second half, but Guigue then had his say.

"It was a repeat of our last few games," said Lynx coach Graeme West.

"UTC adapted better to the weather conditions and they played quite well.

"But we could have beaten them if we had controlled the ball better when we had possession.

"However, we are making progress and we are much improved on this stage last season.

"And we are constantly looking for the kind of player who can help us move things forward again."

A crowd of 374 was perhaps not as encouraging as Chorley had hoped, though with few travelling fans, the figures were perhaps none too bad.

And the Lynx put up a good show surviving an early bombardment before UTC finally broke through on 24 minutes when skipper and loose forward Aurelian Cologni sent Gomez in at the corner.

Guigue opened his account on 35 minutes when he collected from a scrum and raced 60 yards to touch down.

Lynx hopes were raised seven minutes into the second half when skipper and scrum half John Duffy kicked through and the full-back hacked on the loose ball and won the race to touch down.

But Guigue then came up with two decisive scores in five minutes.

He collected a kick from hooker David Berthazene to notch his second and then delivered the killer blow when he went over in the corner.

CHORLEY LYNX: Ramsdale; Reddicliffe, Smith, Kilgannon, Wilcock; Jones, Duffy, Street, Roden, Parry, Prescott, Harrison, Bloor. Subs: Patel, Causey, Grundy, Stuart.

UTC: Guigue; Gomez, Verges, Smith, Bise; Howlett, Millan; Cabestany, Berthazene, Lowrie, Piva, Fellous, Cologni. Subs: Hartigan, Jampy, Greseque, Lopez.

CHORLEY LYNX...6 UTC...20