THE only saving grace from this match is that Chester did not lose, although they did try pretty hard to achieve a defeat!
It was the home side's worst display of the season but, following two successive defeats, it was at least a win. Sheffield started the game as if they meant business, and one would have thought Chester had just got off the bus after a two-hour journey.
Eventually, Chester started to gain possession and were rewarded with a try from Neil Parsley, converted by Murray King, for a 7-0 lead.
That was the only bright spot in a dismal first half which saw Sheffield's excellent fly-half Pearson convert four penalties following Chester infringements. The away side led 12-7 at half-time.
Chester picked it up in the second half with the forwards at least gaining parity with a lively Sheffield pack. The visitors increased their lead from another penalty and led the game for 20 minutes of the second half, before an opportunist Ben Foden try under the posts, converted by King, dragged Chester back to 14-15. A penalty from King gave Chester the lead at 17-15 and the Hare Lane crowd thought they were home and dry.
But Sheffield thought differently and with the home side under tremendous pressure on their own line, King had his clearance kick charged down resulting in a try for Sheffield.
At 20-17 down with 10 minutes remaining, it was to Chester's credit they hit back and regained the lead following a forwards drive, which led to Gavin Woods scoring the winning try.
This was a hard-fought win against a team that had won only one game. Chester need to look at their performance closely as their once dominant pack is showing signs of creaking.
Richard Hughes and Gavin Woods in the back row can only cover so much, the rest of the forwards seemed to lack pace and passion in a poor display.
If the forwards are not producing the platform, the backs are always going to struggle. If they are not moving on to the ball, they are easy to defend. A better side would have murdered them.
