ALED Evans was in a stable but still critical condition in hospital as The Chronicle went to press.

The 29-year-old Chester forward missed Saturday’s big day out at Twickenham after sustaining life- threatening injuries in a work accident last Wednesday.

Chester’s players raised a glass of champagne to Evans before the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup final against Birkenhead Park – and later dedicated the win to their stricken team-mate.

They even plan to take the trophy and other mementoes from the day to hospital once he is well enough.

Director of rugby Steve Donovan said: “Our thoughts were with Aled and his family before the match and after the game.

“It made the day even more emotional. Before the game we said ‘let’s do this for Aled’ and there is no doubt not having Aled there was in the minds of the players. They wanted to win this one for Aled and we did, even though it was a close- fought match.

“After the match we were delighted to win but we were still thinking about Aled and now the team are hoping and praying that he is making a recovery from this terrible accident.”

Builder and farmer Evans, of Rhydymain, near Dolgellau, Gwynedd, suffered a fractured skull after falling 25ft through a barn roof at Bwlchgwyn Farm in North Wales.

He was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd by the Welsh Air Ambulance before being transferred to the Walton Centre for neurology in Liverpool.