Chester welcomed closest neighbours Lymm to Hare Lane for the final home fixture of 2025 writes your correspondent.
In front of a large appreciative pre-Xmas crowd both sides contributed to a thrilling match where effort and endeavour from a sometimes ill-disciplined home team was enough to take a welcome victory.
Top marks to in-form front row Josh Woods with a hat-trick of tries, one of which would be a contender for the Jason Robinson Fast Feet award as he scooted home from 20m out.
Chester started strongly with points on the board from scrum-half Tommy Ellis after good work from Morgan Bagshaw who was prominent throughout. Fly-half Sam Rogers landed the extras. Not to be outdone the visitors hit back within 2 minutes when ex-Chester player Joe Heaton squeezed in at the corner.
A purple patch between the 6th and 24th minutes saw Chester extend their lead to 26-5 as the aforementioned Woods stood his defender up and scored, Sam Rogers exploited a defensive gap to cross and, more prosaically, Woods drove over from close range.
What became clear however that Lymm's primary attacking weapon was a driving maul off a long lineout throw which they executed extremely proficiently. Chester were only to willing to help them in this task by giving away penalties allowing kicks to the corner from which to use this effective ploy. This would result in a hat-trick of tries for replacement hooker, Rob Makin, alongside growing frustration from the home crowd.
His first try on 32 minutes reduced that deficit and his second just after half time brought the score to 26 - 17.
After a regroup, Chester were able to fashion a position whereby Josh Woods could peel off a driving maul and collect his third try. Just 8 minutes later, and much to the large home crowds relief, centre Ben Ivory galloped 40 metres, breaking tackles to extend the lead. With full back Morgan Bagshaw's conversion the score was 38-17 with the final quarter to come. Game management was to be key and despite further visitor tries from Makin, to complete his hat-trick, and James Yates, with the last play of the game, two well struck penalties from Bagshaw ensured that Chester just kept out of reach from the visitors.

Full match video HERE