Middlesbrough 25Chester 10
CHESTER suffered a Hallowe’en nightmare on their final trip to the North East of the season.
Tim Doig’s high-flying side led early on in Saturday’s clash but eventually fell foul of a well-drilled Middlesbrough machine playing to its strengths.
Chester chose to play with both the slope and the wind in the first half and the decision paid immediate dividends.
Boro were over-eager at the first scrum and were caught offside, allowing Rhys Hayes an easy penalty.
At this point, the visitors looked comfortable and were making all the running, with Simon Verbickas collecting several good pick-ups and putting towering kicks into the home side’s half to keep them under pressure.
A good lineout on the 10-metre line saw the ball moved quickly to Liam Lawton, who made a neat half break before finding Tom Foden in support.
With a wall of players in front of him, he had nowhere to go, but Foden’s quick feet created a gap and he raced clear to score under the posts, allowing Hayes the easiest of conversions.
Middlesbrough fought back well, though, and their big forwards managed to drive deep into Chester’s half. And, after a series of rolling mauls, they forced themselves over the line with a converted try.
The hosts then went in front for the first time when more good play by their forwards brought a touchdown that went unconverted.
The second half was one-way traffic as Boro used the conditions well to keep the ball deep in the Chester half, a tactic which was rewarded with two more tries and a penalty.
Helsby went down 56-0 in their trip to face Ramsay on the Isle of Man in South Lancs/Cheshire Three on Saturday, while Christleton lost 24-0 at Birchfield 2nds in Miller Homes League Division Four West.
