The Stour defences just held out as both sides gave their all in deteriorating conditions that discouraged expansive rugby. Stour move up to 3rd in the Nat. 2N table, ahead of Otley who face the long trek to Stourton Park next weekend. With leaders Macclesfield taking on 2nd place Sedgley Park at the same time Stour now have the opportunity to put themselves within touching distance of the top 2, enjoying the mental edge of having already beaten both.

Making first use of a stiff breeze Chester opened their account when outside half Rhys Hayes landed a penalty kick after a tackle offence. Stour ground their way up to the Chester 22 but not for the only time in the game they were penalised for holding on at the tackle and Chester struck again when no.8 Dave Ford crashed over from a well-executed lineout catch & drive. A dangerous clear-out enabled outside half Chris Scott to open Stour’s account midway through the half with a penalty. Chester then pressed attacks that were comfortably contained by the Stour defences, both sides coughing up the ball with frequent handling errors.

Another shot at goal by Hayes flew wide, the error compounded by an overcooked punt that gifted Stour scrum feed in Chester’s half. A set of patient drives advanced to the hosts’ line where tighthead Mark George barged over unmarked in the corner. Chester pressed a final 1st half attack but were held up in a maul. Halftime 8-8.

The rain was falling even heavier as the 2nd half started, Stour replacement Rod Petty slotting in at centre for Joe Heatley. An early Chester attack regained the lead through a penalty kick for Hayes after a defender went off his feet at a tackle bang in front of the Stour posts. The restart was fumbled back to Stour and a penalty secured for side-entry but Scott’s kick flew wide. A dozy offside on the clearance kick gifted Stour a further penalty deep in the Chester 22 that was kicked to the corner, the forwards setting siege to the hosts’ line. Chris Depper’s catch set up a maul that was advancing at speed before the defenders pulled it down to concede a penalty try converted by Scott.

The visitors’ pack got to work, a huge drive led by loosehead Stef Thorp turned over Chester’s scrum feed, but the hosts’ pack recovered to hold steady when Stour declined a straightforward 3 points and opted to scrum again. The opportunity went begging though when the ball was spilt out wide. A huge linekick by Petty set up another set of phases in the Chester 22, Hayes getting himself a rest in the sinbin for a late no-arms hit on Scott. Stour kicked to the corner and pressed the attack, Petty quickly punting a penalty award to winger Josh Trinham in Chester’s in goal but it was disallowed and Scott settled for a further successful penalty kick.

Chester recovered the restart and set up a series of protracted attacks in the Stour half, poor kicking out of hand failing to relieve the pressure on the few occasions the visitors were to get their hands on the ball in the final quarter hour. The hosts inched closer and closer to the tryline as the clock wound down, but the hardworking Stour defences held out. The final 5 minutes saw an all-out assault, Chester chasing a draw knowing they’d secured the losing bonus point. Penalties were tapped and run but constantly found a brick wall of defenders, and with time up a knock-on drew the final whistle. Fulltime 11-18.

Next week’s pre-match lunch will mark the club’s formal celebration of its 50th year on the Stourton Park site, they then take on Otley ko 3pm as the 4 top sides in Nat. 2N meet up.