Slick Chester back play put Harrogate under early pressure with winger John Ketland a constant threat. However, Harrogate countered and, when Chester went offside, Joe Rowntree’s penalty gave Harrogate their first points. Chester continued to attack but were well contained by resolute home defence and Harrogate’s inventive back play started to take centre stage. Danny Matthews broke strongly from a defensive scrum and a searing Sam Bottomley break took play into Chester’s half. Callum Irvine gathered a Chester clearance, made a half break and put in a well judged attacking chip which he gathered himself. The ball was recycled to Bottomley whose power and pace took him through the defence for an excellent converted try.

The next try was again initiated by an attacking chip, the ball went through several pairs of hands and Bottomley again burst through the defence for his second converted try. Solid Harrogate forward play was keeping Chester “honest” with a dominant front row in charge up front. Brady and Tom Harvey were a powerhouse in the engine room and, along with Chris Wilson, dominated the lines-out. Strong running from Andy Boyde and Nathan Smith constantly turned defence into attack but the next score was a Chester Will Goodwin penalty when Harrogate went offside.

Inspired by this, Chester set up driving mauls and, in the last move of the half, Guy Ford squeezed over for a converted try.

Rowntree gathered Chester’s restart kick at pace and combined well with Irvine to launch another home attack. A Chester high tackle was penalised and, from the resulting line-out, Lewis Boyce drove over to score. The home pressure forced Chester to go offside and Rowntree’s penalty extended the lead. Chester then made a mess of handling a Harrogate clearance and Lewis Minikin seized on the loose ball to kick through and score from inside his own half.

Harrogate then counter attacked from deep and, although a miss pass was almost intercepted, substitute winger Cam Leadley plucked the ball out of the air and his 50 metres break was well supported by Minikin who scored in the left corner. Although Harrogate now seemed to be “out of sight” Chester continued to attack and set up a series of driving mauls. Sam Vaughan eventually crashed over to score but Harrogate countered with a succession of home driving mauls. Chester went offside and Rowntree’s penalty was the final score of the match.

Harrogate: Rowntree, Bottomley, Minikin, Frost, Edwards, Irvine, Matthews, Boyce, Yorke, Reaveley, Brady, Harvey, Wilson, Smith, Boyde. Subs (all used) Nyemba, Browne, Enslin, Wood, Leadley

Chester: Green, Rees, Ross, Hayes, Ketland, Goodwin, Walsh, Woods, Gill, Bevan, Joseph, White, Bown, Moore, Ford. Subs (all used) Fitzgerald, Vaughan, Sherlock, Evans, Gray

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRFU)

Match Report by Bill Barrack.