Rugby union: Chester 48 West Hartlepool 3

Dec 17 2009 Chester Chronicle

Chester 48 West Hartlepool 3

CHRISTMAS came early for Chester as they piled on the points against one of the league’s leakiest defences.

Only West Park St Helens have conceded more points than Division Three North basement boys West Hartlepool, who were no match for the men from Hare Lane on Saturday.

Chester director of rugby Tim Doig felt his side deserved to win by an even greater margin.

“It should have been more,” he said. “We missed all our conversions in the second half. But it was a good performance and we needed the bonus points because Morley and Stockport are threatening to pull away.”

The victory moved Chester up from fourth to third – tucked in behind leaders Morley and second-placed Stockport – and put them back on track after the previous week’s home loss to Rossendale.

The injured players who missed out against Rossendale were back on Saturday to bolster Doig’s promotion-chasing squad.

From the kick-off, West Hartlepool were forced back and they fell 3-0 behind when a Rhys Hayes penalty crept over the bar after just four minutes.

Wing Liam Lawton scored the opening try, finishing a great move to cross in the corner with Hayes converting.

Marcus Lyon then took a short pass off Tom Foden and scored under the posts for an easy Hayes conversion.

Five minutes later the returning Ross White got on to the scoresheet, Hayes again converting, to make it 24-0 at the break.

The visitors registered the first points of the second half with a Paul Moss penalty, but Chester hit back when Foden and Simon Verbickas created space for Lyon to score his second.

Old warhorse Verbickas then got in on the act with a try from a quick tap penalty.

With the match over as a contest, the hosts gave their subs a run-out – and the tries kept coming. White crossed for his second of the afternoon and James Farrell scampered home to complete the scoring.

Chester’s final match before the festive break sees them go to mid-table Beverley this Saturday.