Early on both sides moved the ball and had periods of pressure. However, inaccuracies let them down. The game came to life only in the 2nd quarter. First Tom Holloway, the Chester scrumhalf, tapped a penalty in the Blaydon 22. Strong forward carries dented the visitors’ defence creating space out wide for Gethin Long to score. Then Ralph Appleby the Blaydon 8 crossed from a driven lineout. Nearing the break Chester pulled away. Long added a 45-metre penalty and lock Mike Byrne (pictured) scored a try following a powerful 30 metre break by Harry Wilkinson. Then, with halftime beckoning, came the incident that effectively sealed Chester’s win. Following an intervention by the assistant referee a Blaydon forward was red carded.
A man and 10 points up Chester began the second half brightly. On 44 minutes prop Josh Woods broke blind from a ruck close to the visitors’ line, slipped the ball to Holloway who scored. Then Chester wing Harrison Vare took a kind bounce from his own kick ahead to score under the posts.
With 30 minutes left Chester might have run away with it but didn’t. Their earlier inaccuracies reappeared, not least a malfunctioning lineout and a string of breakdown penalties awarded by the clear and consistent Mr. Pearson. To their credit, Blaydon played rugby and managed two late tries. The best came from scrumhalf John Clarkson, capping a strong performance by breaking from a ruck, cutting 30 metres through a despairing defence and scoring a try, which he converted.
Star player – Josh Woods (Chester)
Referee – Mr.Henry Pearson
Attendance - 300