CHESTER kept their North One promotion dream alive with a thrilling victory over rivals Hull Ionians at Hare Lane on Saturday.
They started with clear intentions and were ahead in the first minute. They recaptured the ball from the kick-off and took it on for a second phase. Tom Foden passed wide to the classy Simon Verbickas who galloped over the line.
On 10 minutes the Ionians seemed to settle into the game and from a breakaway scored an unconverted try out wide to equalise.
Foden was at the centre of things and made a superb break, off-loading the ball just at the right time to flying centre Neil Parsley who finished off the move in style.
Chester came straight back to the Ionians' 22-metre line and following some great forward pressure Colin Ellis was rewarded with a try following a powerful driving maul.
The hosts continued to pressure the Ionians' line and gained a couple of penalties which Verbickas converted to give them a 21-5 interval lead.
Chester started the half in the same manner as the first and put another three points on the board through a Verbickas penalty, but on the 50-minutes mark Chester lost two men to the sinbin following infringements in the maul and the visitors took advantage and went over for an unconverted try.
The Chester 13 defended well but Hull were now pressing and it was only a matter of time before they scored again and also converted to make the score 24-17 to Chester.
Hull settled for two converted penalties to close the gap, but could not do enough to snatch victory.
The Walker Smith Way man-of-the-match was skipper and scrum half Colin Ellis.
Chester director of rugby Steve Dorrington said: 'We are still in the race for promotion and we will be doing everything possible to win the next five league games.' nChester are in Cheshire Cup action tomorrow when they meet neighbours Wirral in the quarter-final at Hare Lane (2.30pm).
After beating Caernarfon in the cup the previous week Chester Ladies failed to complete a double when the Welsh side bounced back to win 19-15. Chester's try scorers were Rachel Smith, Sylvia Baajans and Lynsey Naden. Chester travel to Welshpool for the first time on Sunday.
Chester U16s came from behind to draw 15-15 at Whitchurch. They meet Caldy at Hare lane on Sunday with an 11am kick off.
