DMPRFC 12 v CHESTER RFC 27

Things began very positively for Park, when a decent period of play in the first two minutes, culminated in Danny BROWN stretching over for a corner flag score, after some good interplay between forwards and backs.

When Ritchie YOUNG slotted over the difficult conversion, a comfortable day at the office was predicted.

However, Chester RFC had not read the script and scored after less than five more minutes had elapsed, with poor tackling to blame on the part of the home side. The conversion was missed, but Chester again took the fight to Park and crossed a further three times before oranges, with a mixture of quick back play, poor Park tackling and glaringly simple individual errors.

Chester’s backs proved elusive, but their forwards were always under pressure in the scrums, apparently something which is a weekly event. But their loose forwards appeared used to the referee's lack of interest when going in from the side or being off their feet at ruck time. Not a whinge, just a fact.

The last of these touchdowns emanated from a period of sustained pressure by Park on the Chester line, but when the ball was finally released, it was intercepted and ran the length of the field for the score. Had that been a different outcome and we had managed to register our second try at that stage, you never know!

Harsh words were the order of the day at oranges and it seemed to have done the trick, as Park reduced the level of simple mistakes, defended well and had opportunities to add to their tally.

That said, the only addition to the score line in the second half, was a try by debutant No. 8 Mace POLOIE, who overall had the best game for the home side. Park pressed until the final whistle, but the early damage had already been done.

The game was marred by a late injury to Danny BROWN, who almost certainly broke his troublesome wrist, so soon after it had appeared he had recovered from the previous break.

Overall, Chester deserved their victory, but as another game slips out of Park’s grasp which they can ill afford, a more focused performance is envisaged in the games ahead.