Chester 8 Sandal 8
HARE Lane regulars have witnessed some exciting encounters this season, but entertainment was in short supply on Saturday as Chester fought out a dull stalemate.
The result leaves the promotion-chasers third in the table, a distant 16 points behind leaders Stockport and seven adrift of second-placed Bradford and Bingley in Division Three North.
With mid-table visitors Sandal showing little ambition to move the ball wide and Chester unable to string together any sustained passages of play, some fans were lured back into the clubhouse to watch the Six Nations clash between England and Italy on TV.
Just like England at Twickenham, Sandal took an early lead.
They crashed over to open the scoring with an unconverted try and stretched their lead soon after with a well-struck penalty.
But Rhys Hayes got the hosts on the scoreboard with a penalty of his own as Chester threatened to come to life.
As the half wore on, centre Liam Lawton, who along with Ross White was making his 100th appearance for the Hare Lane club, began to make big inroads into the Sandal half.
From one such break, the forwards won quick ball and the backs moved it wide to where Mark Brooks was loitering on the wing. He was held up short by a fine tackle but big second row Llion Jones crashed over to score in the corner to make it 8-8.
The second half did little to encourage the remaining spectators to stay out of the clubhouse as both sides failed to add to their tally.
Chester host Billingham this Saturday (2.15pm).
An under-strength Chester 2nds went down 55-12 at Altrincham Kersal 2nds in the Raging Bill Cup.
The visitors’ points came from Cheshire under 20s second row Joe Hickey and young fly-half Johnny Fairclough, scrum-half Oli Parkinson adding the extra points with a conversion.
The 2nds make the short trip up the M53 on Saturday for a derby with Birkenhead Park 2nds.
Chester 3rds did not play at the weekend as scheduled opponents Southport 2nds failed to rise a side.
Former Chester player Ben Foden played at fullback for England on Saturday as they overpowered Italy 59-13 at Twickenham. He can expect to feature again when Martin Johnson’s side host France – the only other unbeaten side in this year’s Six Nations championship – on Saturday week (5pm).
Ellesmere Port stepped up their charge for the South Lancs/Cheshire Three title on Saturday with a 21-14 home win over leaders Crewe and Nantwich.
