A brace from Dean Armstrong proved decisive as Lincoln City Knights were defeated 28-22 away at Thorne Moor Marauders.

Armstrong’s brace gave the hosts a 12-6 lead by halftime, with debutant hooker Jim Bardgett responding for the Knights.

Craig Hookway, Mark Roach, and Shaun Carver crossed for the Marauders, with tries from Dan Reeds, Matt Meanwell and Meehal Grint not enough to prevent defeat for the Lincoln.

Coach Dave Moll was left frustrated by the result.

“It was a good spirited performance with some good work in defence and in attack,” said Moll.

“But it was let down by silly mistakes which allowed Thorne Moor to gain a lead that proved to be too much.

“Even though we finished the stronger, the gap in the score was just too big.

“Jim Bardgett had a good debut constantly threatening the Marauders defence, and Jason Ward and Mark Pearson did a sterling job as makeshift halfbacks.”

Bardgett added:

“We played well but were our own worst enemies at times, giving away silly penalties, but the commitment was there until the end.”

The Marauders took the lead within two minutes of the kick off thanks to a Ryan Rafferty penalty.

Lincoln soon mounted pressure on their opponents with Grint, Paul Hamnett and Rob Mitchell all tackled metres short of the line. But it was the hosts who crossed first when Armstrong went over for a try in the corner.

The Knights soon levelled the scores when Bardgett fed an excellent dummy before running in for a try, which Mark Pearson converted.

But Thorne Moor regained the lead just before the break with Armstrong running in for his second try. Rafferty added the extras.

The hosts extended their lead within a minute of the restart when Roach broke away from inside his own half before offloading to Hookway to run in for a try, which Rafferty converted.

Lincoln almost responded immediately only for Mitchell and Bardgett to both be held up over the line. Minutes later Dan Reeds was tackled just two metres out as the Knights continued to try and get back into the game.

The Marauders extended their lead when Roach took advantage of an awkward bounce before running in for a try, which Rafferty converted.

The Knights soon hit back with prop Craig King making an excellent break, powering through a tackle, before offloading to Reeds to run in for a try, which Pearson converted.

Carver went over for a try to give the hosts a 16 point advantage before Lincoln began to control the game with Dale Jinks releasing Meanwell to run in for a try.

Bardgett took a quick tap penalty from halfway and raced clear only to be tackled on the line. On the next play Lincoln were left frustrated when Grint appeared to go over for a try only for his effort to be disallowed.

Minutes later Andy Donnor managed to offload in the tackle leaving Grint to sprint clear for a try, which Pearson converted, but it was a little too late.