Chester Gladiators warmed up for this weekend's top-of-the-table clash with Rochdale Cobras with a hard-fought 27-10 win at Culcheth Eagles.

Chester were below their best at Shaw Street in a game littered with errors but ground out an eighth straight league victory to keep themselves at the head of Division Four on points difference.

Ben Stelmaszek - who will lead a three-man coaching team made up of him, Simon Quinn and team manager Lee Joyner for the rest of the season following the departure of head coach David Kirby - created the first score of the game for centre Daniel Munt on 10 minutes.

Aled Davies couldn't land the conversion but did show a smart brain to bang over a drop goal soon after when Gladiators were almost caught in possession on the last tackle.

A succession of errors early in the tackle count gave Culcheth plenty of opportunities but Chester's defence held strong.

And it was the visitors who increased the lead when experienced centre Damian Tierney finished off a sweeping move in the corner with Davies just missing the conversion attempt.

Culcheth did find a breakthrough on the stroke of half-time, crossing wide on the left and an unsuccessful kick meant Chester went into the break leading 9-4.

Stelmaszek powered over from close range on 48 minutes and Davies' conversion gave Gladiators an 11-point lead.

However, the Eagles came back once again and found a gap in the defence to close to within five points once more.

Chester needed to respond and did, taking command of the game for the next 10 minutes.

First, Mark Kingsley scampered between defenders to touch down and then Stelmaszek's quick-thinking resulted in his second of the contest, Davies converting both to put them 27-10 ahead.

That was how the game finished, although Culcheth did put them under plenty of pressure in the closing stages.

Chester's new coaching team took training for the first time on Monday and are looking forward to the visit of second-placed Rochdale on Saturday.

The game at The Cheshire County Sports Club in Upton will kick-off at 2.30pm and admission is free.