CHESTER RUFC Squash team scrambled to a 3-2 home victory against lowly Fairways Lodge.

The evening did not start well for Chester when Jonathan Davies failed to turn up. Despite frantic calls he could not be located, which handed Lodge the number five match by forfeit.

The evening got worse as Amena Helal, just back from an American squash scholarship, proved too accurate for Jez Westwell.

Westwell covered all corners of the court with his usual enthusiasm, but Helal was always in control and triumphed 3-1 to put Lodge 2-0 up.

The visitors sensed a shock win but Chester’s three most reliable players dampened their enthusiasm rapidly.

First, Jonathan Clark trounced the talented Steve Withington 3-0 and then the ever-clinical Phil Whitlock did the same to Ben Blocksidge.

It was left to Chester’s star man Nick Taylor to provide one of his trademark masterclasses in squash, defeating South African international Carl Hampton 3-0 to ensure the bonus points went to the relieved hosts.

Chester’s next match, at Alderley Edge, will mark the halfway point in the season and the title race is already a four-horse contest between Grove Park, Prestbury, Chester and Alderley Edge.