Injuries to key players leave Chester facing an uphill task to put this deflating defeat behind them.

Nic Corrigan’s men were unable to contain the ruthless Tigers at the weekend and must now prepare for a daunting trip to rivals Macclesfield this Saturday.

Sedgley Park ran riot in the opening half hour and brought the visitors’ seven-game winning run to an end.

Rhys Hayes, Sean Green, Tom Gregory and Tom Foden are among a host of players on the treatment table but director of rugby Corrigan insists the absences must not be used as an excuse.

“We are not going to hide,” he said.

“It was a tale of 30 minutes and then what happened after that. In those first 30 minutes it was the worst we have performed in the last two years.”

Corrigan was disappointed that some fringe players failed to perform and stake claims for starting spots.

However,  he conceded he would have to give them another chance with the casualty list showing no signs of letting up.

“Our physio Steve Hardwick joined us from Everton over the summer and I think he has had a baptism of fire,” said Corrigan.

“I’m not going to rush anyone back because we want them to be ready mentally and physically.

“There are some players who are lucky because they will be getting a second chance and it’s up to them to take that opportunity.”

Corrigan was more disappointed with the performance of his side against Sedgley Park than the end result.

However, he remains pleased with the way the season has gone so far and believes the loss will have no bearing on his aim to finish in the top-six.

“It does not change our objective,” said Corrigan.

“We wanted to be in this league and we want to be in National League One and it’s not always going to be a straight trajectory but if we want to play with the big boys then we have got to start acting like that a bit more.”

An away trip to second-placed Macc provides Chester with arguably the toughest possible test available as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s loss.

But Corrigan believes the game provides his players with the perfect opportunity to prove they are capable of matching up to the top teams in the league.

“I don’t think we could have asked for a better fixture,” said Corrigan, whose side came agonisingly close to beating Macc at Hare Lane in October, eventually going down 15-14.

“We are looking for a performance because the result will take care of itself.

“We are not going to roll over because we have got a good group of players who have pushed Macclesfied very close before.

“We have just got to solve and manage this blip properly and that is down to me and I believe we have got the group and the culture to do that.”

Chester 2nds were not in action last weekend after being given a bye in the BEST Cup first round.

Wilmslow 2nds visit Hare Lane on Saturday in the Bateman BMW Premier Division.

Christleton travelled to Wirral-based Anselmians 2nds in the first round of the LBS Bowl and crashed out 51-10.

The villagers are at home to Bowdon 2nds in Division Three South this weekend.

Heslby continue to struggle in South Lancs and Cheshire Division Three after going down to a 50-12 defeat at Oldershaw.