Chorley 22, Cougars 23 THERE were more twists and turns in the story of the Cougar clash with Chorley Lynx than a Shakespearean play, but the punchline - a one-point win for Keighley - did nothing to reveal the convoluted plot.

Like all really good performances there was a sting was in the tail. Cougars had won the second half 19-0 after an impressive fight back, but Karl Smith went to ground as the hooter sounded.

The referee ruled he had gone down moments before the end of the game in a 'voluntary tackle' and awarded Chorley a penalty. With Cougars holding a seven-point lead it was all rather academic, but the home side threw the ball along the line from the left wing for Anton Garcia to stroll over on the right and Mark McCully kicked the conversion to make it look like a close finish.

For years the Lancashire club have been the whipping boys of professional rugby league. They have been the consummate under achievers, but this season have picked up a string of experienced players and will cause upsets throughout the league campaign.

Running like a sub-plot through the game was the contest between former Leigh forward Tim Street, and Jason Ramshaw. Street, now well past his sell-by date, accused the Cougar star of gouging his eye and at every opportunity there were words, glowering stares, and attempts to get to grips with each other, but there was but little more than handbags at six paces

With a howling wind blowing across the Victory Park stadium the Lynx showed their mastery of local knowledge by stabbing a string of 40-20 kicks. Each time stand-in wingman Gareth Hewitt was the target and he was torn between staying in the defensive line and getting back to field the kicks.

But Chorley's first try was amore straight forward affair. After just two minutes they had pushed up towards the Cougar line and a small kick through bobbled up into the hands of Chorley full back Mark McCully who snapped up the chance to score between the posts and tag on the conversion.

McCully followed up with a penalty minutes later and Cougar looked to be struggling to get to grips with the game. At times it seemed they had simply under-estimated the new look Chorley side.

A break by Ian Hodson set up Martin Gambles to add the home side's second try and McCully's conversion stretched their lead to 14-0.

When the Keighley side sparked into life they produced moments of brilliance. A superb passing move saw Gareth Hewitt cross the line and Adam Mitchell kicked the first of three conversions.

Within minutes Cougars were hammering back into the attack and came close to scoring on the left, but a miss-timed pass saw Chorley break away and only a desperate tackle from Oliver Wilkes prevented them racing up-field with the line at their mercy.

McCully added two drop goals to give the home side a 16-6 interval lead.

Coach Gary Moorby asked his team to show real determination after the break and they came out with a new determination. James Rushforth broke clear and set up Hewitt for his second try, but this time Mitchell was unable to make the kick.

Wilkes and Simeon Hoyle combined to make the next break and the ball flew across the line before Ramshaw supplied the delicate kick through which set up Matt Foster for the first of his two tries, both converted by Mitchell, to level the scores.

On the next attack Matty Firth kicked a drop goal, which was ultimately to prove vital.

With the seconds ticking away the referee handed Chroley one last chance. They scored the try and McCully's conversion bounced in off the post, but Cougars had collected the points.