IMPROVING Clitheroe slipped to another narrow defeat at fellow strugglers Crosby St Mary’s.

Following last week’s tight 23-16 loss at fourth-placed Birchfield, Clitheroe were again denied, this time going down 10-8.

The two gutsy performances come on the back of a 26-7 victory over Carnforth, which was only their second win of the season.

That lifted them off the bottom of North Lancs Two, one point ahead of Newfield, seven points adrift of both Carnforth and Crosby St Mary’s with five games of the current campaign remaining.