CHESTER'S bid to close the gap on North One leaders Bradford & Bingley was virtually scuppered in the first 20 minutes as the hosts raced to a 22-0 lead.

But though the Yorkshire side ended the game with a decisive margin, Chester's fight-back was heartening for the management and augured well for the battles to come in the race for promotion to the National League.

Chester suffered a blow with a late cry-off by player-coach Murray King, who had been unwell during the week, which thrust young Tom Foden into the number 10 shirt.

Bradford played an expansive game and for the opening period Chester found themselves mesmerised in the head lamps and unable to stop the onslaught.

The Chester pack finally got hold of the ball and began to make inroads into the Bradford '22', and from a quick penalty Ben Foden produced his usual magic and danced his way over for a try, converted by brother Tom.

This appeared to inject belief into the Chester side and they began to take the game to Bradford, but from a penalty against Chester the Bradford number nine took a quick tap and, before the visitors could defend the play, he had put his winger over for a score.

At 27-7 any thought Chester may throw in the towel was quickly dispelled as the pack began to control the football, especially with Gareth Sanger winning good line out ball and Matt Bellamy scored after repeated drives by the forwards, with the conversion successful.

Good rugby was now on offer from both sides, but Richard Hughes was sin-binned, though this did not stop Chester playing expansive rugby.

A super break by Geraint Parry saw the ball go to ground and Bradford pounced on the offering and scored just before half-time.

With Chester trailing 32-14, the half-time team talk by the skipper was excellent as he asked the play-ers to believe in their ability and take the game to Bradford.

It had the desired effect. A dropped ball by the Bradford number eight saw Jim Lyle kick through and win the race to score early in the second half, with Tom Foden adding the extra points from the touchline.

At 32-21 the game was up for grabs and Chester threw everything at Bradford for most of the second half, but good defending kept them out.

Though beaten, Chester could take a lot of positives from the performance and the coaches must now ask them to perform like this week in, week out.

The Walker Smith and Way man of the match was Gareth Sanger. Chester have no game this weekend after Caldy withdrew from their scheduled friendly match. The second team are at home to Oldham (2.15pm). Chester's next league match is tomorrow week at home to West Park St Helens.

Helsby 17 Oswestry 13: Helsby continued their recent good form with a hard-fought victory over a strong Oswestry side.

They had a dream start when John Williams gave an excellent pass to winger Andy Rowlinson, who had the pace to score near the posts before converting his own try.

The rest of the first half was a tight affair, with neither team managing to post any further points.

The visitors started the second half strongly and stunned Helsby with two quick tries, followed by a penalty to give them the lead, but Helsby came back and after good play by the forwards the ball was moved along the line, with Jimmy Walker supplying the pass that allowed Rowlinson to cross in the corner.

With time running out and a point behind, Helsby scored the try of the game when they ran the ball from near their own line. Some crisp passing set Rowlinson free and he raced 50 yards to complete his hat-trick to secure an excellent victory.

Helsby's man of the match was Rowlinson for his strong running.

Helsby 2nd XV 12 Oswestry 2nd XV 17: Helsby's second string should have won this tightly fought contest. A below-par first-half performance saw the home side throw away good possession and gift the visitors three early tries.

Despite being 17-0 down at the break, Helsby lifted their game in the second half and looked a different side. Centre Richard Albel caused the visitors all sorts of problems with his pace and it was the centre who opened up the Oswestry defence to send in full-back Ashley Wakefield for a superb 40-yard try.

The home side then looked to be gaining the upper hand until a five-minute spell saw two Helsby players and one Oswestry player sin-binned in two separate incidents but, despite being down to 13 men, Helsby weren't deterred.

Sam Rowland came off the bench to make his debut for Helsby and soon made an impact with a darting run up the right wing. Helsby's backs then spun the ball out wide and it was Albel again who caused problems for the visitors, cutting through the back line before finding Gordon Lilley in support to finish off the move, Dave Orme converting.

Helsby could have won the match in the dying minutes when they had a two-man overlap out wide and looked certain to score, only for the referee to call play back for an injury to an Oswestry player.

Man of the match: Richard Albel.