Chester Gladiators missed out on clinching the North West Men’s League Division Four title with a week to spare after losing 33-16 at Bury Broncos A.
Victory would have guaranteed Chester top spot and a home semi-final in the play-offs but the race for the championship now goes down to the final weekend.
Gladiators will finish ahead of Rochdale Cobras and Manchester Rangers with a win at home to Culcheth Eagles on Saturday, while a defeat would open the door to their rivals.
Chester could have no real complaints about the defeat at Bury with the hosts taking full advantage of a slack start from the visitors.
But hooker Billy Brickhill touched down on the stroke of half-time for the visitors, who went into the break 17-10 behind. Chester made a perfect start to the second period with Johnny Rae crossing the whitewash to bring them within a point but that was as good as the afternoon got.
