SQUASH: CHESTER'S good run finally came to an end with a comprehensive defeat at Manchester Northern.
Without any of their professionals, it was always going to be a difficult match. Chester drafted in Robbie Blair, the second-team captain, for his first game of the season.
Despite holding game point in the second game, Simon Brand from Northern was simply too fast to put his side 1-0 up.
In perhaps the best match of the evening, Chester's South African import Henry Smit had an excellent match against Northern's Chris Clark before going down in three tight games full of attacking squash.
Chester's Jonathan Davies was always under pressure against Northern's Nigerian professional Cornelius Musonda. And despite some brave resistance in the second and third games, he too went down 3-0 to put Northern into an unassailable lead.
With Chester's two stalwarts both on a long unbeaten run, Nick Gatward and Jonathan Clark could only reminisce about how it used to be as they both lost 3-0 to Northern professionals Pete Dillson and Andy Whipp - both players being in the top 75 in the world and half the ages of Clark and Gatward.
A disappointing end to the first half of the season leaves Chester in mid-table with a difficult first match in the second half at leaders Prestbury.
Dragons lost at Neston despite Colin Elson and Peter Lee victories in their two games. The final scoreline was 3-2.
The thirds demolished Winsford 5-0 in a fabulous response following the previous week's defeat to Deeside.
