Chester 17 Birkenhead Park 24

CHESTER were left licking their wounds on Saturday after losing a bruising derby clash with old foes Birkenhead Park.

The Wirral visitors completed a league double over Chester, who had two players – wing Marcus Lyon and prop Geoff Kendall – taken to hospital with broken hands.

Inspirational captain Sean Green was another casualty. He went off after 20 minutes, in serious pain after being kneed in the back in a late tackle.

On a heavy Hare Lane pitch, Park took an early 3-0 lead with a penalty and moved further ahead with a converted try from a well-worked move.

Simon Verbickas reduced the deficit to seven points with a penalty, before the loss of Green saw the introduction of Rhys Hayes to the action.

Within three minutes of his arrival, Hayes levelled the scores with a try after man of the match Pat Coy had caused disarray in the Park defence.

The second half started with Chester defending the big driving Park forwards well and starting to create some gaps out wide with Coy a continuous thorn in the visitors’ side.

But once again Chester managed to shoot themselves in the foot, with Andy Moore being judged offside one time too many and having too spend 10 minutes in the sin bin. Park took immediate advantage with a converted try for a 17-10 lead.

Old warhorse Gareth Sanger hit back with a try for 14-man Chester, Hayes converting the level the score, but the hosts’ jubilation was shortlived as Park’s forwards drove over the Chester line to retake the lead.

Chester continued to try to play expansive rugby, but the Park defence held firm.

Tim Doig’s side, fourth in National Three North, are at second- placed Morley this Saturday.