CHESTER RFC 22 v DMPRFC 8

The trip to Chester RFC was always going to be a tough ask and so it proved as DMPRFC failed to turn up, played poorly and succumbed to a 22 – 8 defeat.

Taking nothing away from Chester RFC, who are the best team DMPRFC have played so far and who probably play the same type of game week in week out and rarely deviate, but it is consistent, it works and it brings rewards.

On away trips, especially long ones like Chester, it is important that minds are focussed from the moment the bus leaves the car park and any interruption of the match day routine often proves fateful. A delay in players joining en route of course did not lose us the game later in the day, but any distraction is exactly what it is – ‘a distraction’.

We were always in the game at oranges. Even at two tries down, one being converted, to our single penalty, there was always a chance at 12 – 3 that we could mount a decent comeback.

Gavin PAINTER was successful with a penalty and had an opportunity to double our tally just before oranges, after a prolonged period of attack in the opposition 22-metre area failed to herald a crossing of the whitewash. The resulting penalty was missed.

A realisation at the break that DMPRFC were still in the game was re-enforced by Head Coach Pete TAYLOR, who at that time was not aware that a bad facial injury to Andy WILSON and shoulder injury to Graeme SEDDON would conspire to force the boss into some late action on the paddock.

So the second half started with some belief for the players and the travelling faithful, but all too soon hopes were dashed by an interception try under the posts after only four minutes of the re-start. With the try easily converted, it was uphill from then on.

DMPRFC did rally late on and restricted Chester to a single penalty, scoring a try in the process after good work by the backs, finished off by the consistent Ben SNOOK, but it was all too little too late.

A failure to release the latent potential of the back line proved costly, although the forwards competed gamely, with flanker Andrew TONKIN (pictured) to the fore in most of the action.