Chester Start National 2 Season With A Win

Chester began their season in National 2 North with a 24-13 win over Birmingham &Solihull after getting promoted to the league last season.

The league’s latest addition were a strong outfit as they over powered the Midlands side with a bonus point win.

Rhys Hayes kicked off the new season, which proved to be a slightly nervy start for the Chester side, losing their first scrum and lineout against the head. However, as the side began to ease into the game and the new league, Chester latched on to a loose kick from Birmingham fly half Sean Green and set up attacking field position.

Chester won two penalties in rapid succession, but could not capitalise, with a missed kick and a knock-on deep within the Birmingham 22.

However, it proved to be third time lucky for the home side, as Chester attacked in rapid succession. The attack began on the half way line, as Chester injected pace onto the ball, combined with some excellent hands from centre J.P. McLinden, who put number 8 Guy Ford through the defence and over the line for an unconverted try.

After the opening score, neither side managed to stamp authority over the game, with Chester being unable to hold onto the ball for extended periods of play; particularly due to a large amount of disruption from Birmingham on their own lineout.

The home defence did manage to stay strong, though, as Birmingham also struggled to put phases of play together. The strong defence paid off for Chester on the 20 minute mark as a loose pass was forced for which Rhys Hayes intercepted to run back for a 40 yard converted try.

Birmingham managed to hit back after going down two scores, and managed to control the next quarter of an hour of play. However, through their domination the away team could only score a penalty.

Chester’s defence were once again up to the challenge, in the face of three scoring opportunities from Birmingham. Finally, snubbing the onslaught with a penalty coming from Birmingham’s scrum, which lead to Chester clearing there lines.

A final penalty was awarded, which Chester managed to convert, giving them a 12-3 lead at the half.

The visiting side began the second half the stronger and quickly notched up a try as a result of some sloppy Chester defence, who looked to be still in the changing rooms. The extra two points were missed, leaving the scores 12-8 with well over half an hour left to play.

Again Birmingham came at the home side hard, with a lineout driven well over 15 metres into the Chester half. Birmingham’s backs kicked into life for the first time in the game, as a gap was created for their outside centre, kicking the ball on, to only be scooped up and kicked dead by Tom Foden on the line. Pressure was relieved after a scrum won against the head.

The last-gasp scramble defence seemed to wake up the Chester side who began to once again control the game.

The Chester pack managed to win better first-phase ball for their backs, through both forms of the set-piece, and allowed them to play with much better structure.

Birmingham lost a player to the sin bin for pulling down a drive, which resulted in a penalty and eventually a home lineout just five metres shy of the line. The ball was caught by Tom Gregory and eventually driven over by the Chester pack for an unconverted score. 17-8.

The game’s final quarter was controlled by Chester, as they opened the Midlands’ side defence on a number of occasions; however, they were unable to convert on these opportunities.

As the 70 minute mark passed on the clock Chester found themselves at a scrum deep within the Birmingham half, where the pack asserted their dominance and managed to score a pushover try by Guy Ford. The score was converted by Rhys Hayes, to put them out of sight at 24-8.

In the final few minutes, Chester’s Guy Ford was sin binned for a ruck offence, which gave Birmingham an advantage which they acted upon; unfortunately, too little too late, with a try in the corner as the last play of the game.

Final score of 24-13.

Chester made an impressive start to their first season in National 2 North. They will be looking to build on this solid first result when they travel away to Caldy this coming weekend.