Several scoring chances were butchered during the first period and Chester used their limited possession well to score 2 well taken tries and were 3-14 ahead at the break.

Sustained Harrogate opening pressure saw them camped in Chester’s half and a Lewis Minikin penalty put them 3-0 ahead after 7 minutes. The pattern continued but, in almost Chester’s first visit to Harrogate’s half, they were awarded a penalty and went for an attacking line-out. Mike Craven drove over to score and Callum Bennett’s conversion made it 3-7. Still more Harrogate pressure followed but a missed clearance gave Chester midfield possession and a well constructed attack was supported by Ross White who drove over for a converted try.

The second half started with good linking between Harrogate forwards and backs and a smartly taken Callum Irvine drop goal made it 6-14. Willem Enslin, in his last game before emigrating to Canada, inspired the rest of the Harrogate pack to take complete control. A strong Charley Purkiss- McEndoo drive led to an attacking line out and Enslin tucked in behind the subsequent driving maul for a converted try. Chester immediately counter attacked, Harrogate went offside and Bennett’s kick made it 13-17.

Harrogate’s backs then went into overdrive and Minikin scythed through the defence for an excellent individual converted try. Almost immediately, he scored again in support of good backs handling and converted from the touchline. Sam Bottomley had consistently given the visiting defence problems and was the next to score from a brilliant 20 metres break.

A Yellow Card for Harrogate’s Sam Brady gave Chester some respite and Guy Ford scored from the back of the next line-out. The final score came from another Harrogate forward drive, the ball was quickly released to Irvine who danced through the defence for a 40 metres converted try.

Harrogate: Morgan, Bottomley, Minikin, Leadley, Parsons, Irvine, Wickham, Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Reaveley, J Brady, S Brady, J Coser, G Coser, Enslin. Subs (all used):- Larder, Ward, Harvey, T White, Nesbitt.

Chester: Towers, Rees, Green, Foden, Miller, Bennett, Lloyd-Williams, Smith, Kirkby, Hymes, Joseph,
R White, Brown, Craven, Ford. Subs (all used):- Woods, Blackwell, Gregory, Peston, Ross.

Referee: Chris Bennett (RFU)

Match Report by Bill Barrack