Chester 19 Billingham 17

CHESTER returned to winning ways with a last-gasp drop goal by fly-half Rhys Hayes in an enthralling National Three North contest on Saturday.

The result was a welcome one for the Hare Lane side, who had lost three and drawn one of their previous four matches.

The hosts gifted the North East visitors a penalty with barely two minutes on the clock after being caught offside. But from the restart, the Chester forwards took the game by the scruff of the neck and big second-row Chris Jones crashed over in the corner with Hayes unable to convert.

Both sides continued to go in search of points, and it was Chester who stretched their advantage with a well-taken Hayes penalty. But the lead lasted barely two minutes before the visiting centre cut through for a converted try.

Barely five minutes later, a flying tackle by winger Pete Rees prevented another score. But the referee deemed it high and sent Rees to the bin, awarding a penalty try as the visitors took a 17-8 lead into the break.

Chester defended resolutely for the 10 minutes they were down to 14 men. Barely had they been restored to the full complement when try-scorer Jones was binned for collapsing a maul. In the interim, they also lost back-rower Ross White with a broken nose that was quickly reset, and he soon returned to the fray.

Restored to 15 men once again, Chester drove deep into the Billingham half and narrowed the lead with a Hayes penalty after a Billingham back-row committed a professional foul and found himself in the bin for his troubles.

With time running out and still six points behind, Chester finally unlocked Billingham with a piece of magic from Rees. Receiving the ball tight on his wing, he weaved his way past several defenders before crossing in the corner.

Hayes pushed the kick wide but the players refused to panic. The home forwards were now dominant and created the drop goal opportunity for Hayes in the 79th minute to give Chester a valuable four points.

Chester 2nds fell to an 11-5 defeat at Birkenhead Park 2nds on Saturday, Matt Sheen scoring for the visitors.

There were mixed results in South Lancs/Cheshire Three. Capenhurst beat Liverpool Rangers 39-27 and in-form Ellesmere Port saw off Port Sunlight 43-14, while Helsby lost 42-0 at home to Prenton.

On Saturday, Helsby go to Congleton, Ellesmere Port host Knutsford and Capenhurst make the trip to Parkonians.