Rugby union: Birkenhead Park 18 Chester 24

May 5 2011 Chester Chronicle

Birkenhead Park 18Chester 24

CHESTER are heading for the play-offs!

A superb derby victory at Birkenhead Park on Saturday saw them secure second place in National League Division Three (North).

Rossendale, who had designs on pipping Chester to runners-up spot on the final day of the regular season, lost 38-14 to Sandal, meaning the men from Hare Lane finished a clear five points in front of their rivals.

They will now face a one-off play-off match for the right to be promoted to National League Two North – level four of the English rugby ladder.

Facing Chester will be the second-placed team from Northern League Three (Midlands).

Longton are Chester’s likely opponents, although this will not be confirmed until after the Midlands season finishes this weekend.

At Birkenhead on Saturday, Chester went ahead after only two minutes, Rhys Hayes scoring and converting his own try.

Park hooker Chris Jones was driven over the line to make it 7-5 but Chester went 14-5 up when Hayes converted Bryn Snellgrove’s score.

Jones was proving a thorn in Chester’s side and he grabbed two more unconverted tries before half-time to put the hosts 15-14 up.

After the restart, Snellgrove mastered the windy conditions to kick a drop goal (16-15) before Chester scored a contender for try of the season.

Hayes was the man who crossed the whitewash – he also scored the conversion – following some superb interplay involving Matt Sheen and Pat Coy.

Park kicked a late penalty to set up a nail-biting final five minutes, but Chester held firm before Andy Moore cleared touch to bring the regular league season to a close.