Rossendale 5 Chester 13

CHESTER kept up their promotion charge with a thoroughly-deserved away victory on Saturday.

After some indifferent results around the turn of the year the Hare Lane men have bounced back with successive victories.

They lie third in the Division Three North table, just four points behind second-placed Bradford and Bingley with a game in hand.

Chester’s coaching staff chose not to name their team to face Rossendale until shortly before kick-off – a tactic which kept the players on their toes and resulted in an intense start to the match.

The sloping pitch was in the visitors’ favour during the first half and they were ahead after only eight minutes, scrum-half Tom Chappell throwing an outrageous dummy and scoring under the posts for his 10th try of the season. Fly-half Rhys Hayes converted.

Rossendale hit back with a try of their own on 25 minutes and the score stayed at 7-5 until half-time.

After the interval, replacement Andy Moore won a penalty that Hayes curled between the posts with perfection to stretch Chester’s lead.

They extended their advantage on 63 minutes, Hayes kicking another penalty to make it 13-5 and leave Rossendale needing to score more than a converted try to take the lead.

The task proved beyond the Lancashire hosts as Chester dominated in the tackle area and ran out worthy winners. They travel to Waterloo this Saturday (3pm).

In South Lancs/Cheshire Three on Saturday, Helsby went down 30-12 at Congleton, Ellesmere Port triumphed 11-7 at home to Knutsford and Capenhurst crashed 65-7 at Parkonians.

In Division Four West of the North West League, Christleton lost 28-14 at home to Liverpool St Helens 3rds.