Hosts cling on as Hoppers hit back

By DESMOND HICKIE

Chester…………………37

Preston G…………….. 31

Chester captain Sean Green’s milestone 400th club appearance ended in a win, but the hosts were made to scrap all the way by Preston Grasshoppers.

The hosts bossed the first 35 minutes, but Hoppers claimed two deserved and much- -needed bonus points. Chester were quickly on the scoreboard after a break by Luke Cox, pulling in defenders and allowing wing Ben Ivory to score from a cross-kick. Hoppers replied when centre Jacob Browne broke and put wing Will Clapham over.

Chester then hit a seven-minute purple patch, scoring a 45-metre penalty and two converted tries – from full-back Gethin Long and a second from Ivory.

Again Hoppers hit back, with a try from Ben Dorrington after a strong forward drive. However, when Tom Holloway sidestepped a despairing Hoppers’ defender to take the score to 31-12 after 31 minutes a sizeable home win seemed on the cards.

However, the visitors slowed the hosts’ ruck ball and Chester’s frustration left them a man down. A quick tap allowed Hoppers’ Scott Richardson to cross unopposed and Dorrington got his second. Two long-range penalties from Long kept Chester ahead, before a late penalty try for Hoppers.

TEAMS

CHESTER: Long, Ivory, Craven, Lewtas, Green, Reeve, Holloway, Woods, Robson, Williams, Byrne, Lloyd, Joseph, Baxter, Cox Replacements: Croft, Furnival, Cleverly, Harrop, Kershaw PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS: Pearson, Clapham, Swarbrick, Keohane, Spence, Hunt, Moulding, Mabaya, Trippier, Guest, Proctor, D Dorrington, Riley, Longson, Richardson Replacements: Orry, Naylor, B Dorrington, Squirrel, Lee

REFEREE: Neil Sweeney ATTENDANCE: 300

Star man

 Liam Reeve -Chester