LANCASTER'S second journey to Crewe in eight days brought a much improved per-formance but another defeat in the play-offs for the Rugby League Conference Shield.

The team was without Rob Shaw, Ian Hughes, Darren Clark and Randall Raines from the last game and also travelled without Kevin McGuffog, who resigned as coach after two seasons at the helm.

Crewe opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Paul Flannery crossed but, in similar fashion to last week, Lancaster hit back as Mark Squires equalised with a well worked try after Keith Hartle-bury engineered an overlap.

Full back Danny Hoyland restored Crewe's lead but from then on, with Hall, Birkett and Hartlebury leading the way, Lancaster dominated the half and Simon Ledwick scored his maiden Lancaster try follo-wing good work by Gavin Winder.

Next, Russell Birkett broke free from the clutches of a Crewe defender to register a superb individual try and tie the score at 12-12 at half time, leaving Lancaster in a much better position than seven days previously.

But the second half started in typically disappointing fashion as Mark Martin scored for the home side.

Again Lancaster came back as an unstoppable burst from man-of-the-match Liam Hall saw him score out wide.

Neil Walker landed his first conversion of the afternoon to give his side the lead at 18-16 but a controversial decision from the referee disallowing a Lancaster try for a supposed double movement handed the initiative back to the hosts.

Centre Richard Smith scored to edge Crewe back in front and, with the clock ticking down, he repeated the dose to open up a six point lead.

Defeat means Lancaster must now play Blackpool Sea Eagles in the final eliminator with the winner to meet Crewe in the North West final