CHORLEY Rugby League Club returned to winning ways when they defeated bottom club Highfield 40-14 at Victory Park.

Chorley struck in the sixth minute when from a penalty, Carl Parker slipped a pass to John Costello who barged over the line to touch down, Mike Smith adding the conversion.

Chorley's second try of the night came in the 13th minute when, after driving towards the visitors line, Billy Danawe passed a great ball to David Fell to score.

The lead was extended in the 23rd minute when some excellent rugby opened the way for Martin Holden to break clear. He in turn fed Chris Honey who drew the defence to send Mike Bramwell in for a try, Smith added the conversion. Just when it seemed that Chorley would overrun Highfield, the visitors managed to hit back with a disputed try in the 27th minute, Shaun Fanning added the conversion.

Straight from the kick off the arrears were reduced further. Honey dropped the ball and from the resulting scrum Chorley were again penalised for a high tackle, this time Fanning made no mistake with the penalty.

These quick reversals spurred Chorley to greater efforts and when Highfield failed to clear an Andy Ruane kick through, Ian Marsh was on hand to pick up the loose ball and touch down. Smith again adding the conversion.

Three minutes into the half, Chorley's lead was increased when a flowing move ended when Danawe broke through the visitors defence from 30 yards out to touch down, Smith again adding the conversion. Another flowing piece of rugby in the 54th minute brought another try for Chorley when Bob Eccles slipped the ball inside to Holden to touch down under the posts, Smith adding his sixth conversion of the game. Chorley's seventh try of the evening, came when Holden picked up a loose ball in midfield and he drew the defence before sending in Marsh for his second try of the game, Smith adding the conversion.

Highfield now began to see more of the ball as three games inside a week began to take its toll on Chorley. They duly got their reward when Dave Lever produced a fine chip over the defence and he chased his own kick to the line to score an excellent try, Fanning adding the conversion.

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