Chester extended their undefeated series to 4 games with a workmanlike performance that proved too strong for the home side on our first Senior visit to Syston RFC. Despite propping up National 2 West, Syston had shown that at home they could be very competitive with recent home victories over Hornets RFC and Barnstaple. The satisfaction in the victory was tinged with disappointment with a nasty looking injury to second-row Dylan Davies and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Parts of the pitch on this crisp sunny day were still showing evidence of a hard overnight frost but it was declared playable and after some early exchanges characterised by handling errors and cheap penalties, the home side took the lead. A lineout following a penalty kicked to the corner was caught and driven allowing hooker Angus Knight to score. Full back Finlay Knockles added the extras.
Within 4 minutes Chester hit back after Syston attempted a cross field kick in their own 22 which was gathered by Harrison Vare. After a couple of phases, full back Morgan Bagshaw stepped two defenders to open Chester's account. Fly-half Sam Rogers was off target with the conversion, his only miss of the day. On 17 minutes it was Chester's pack's turn to showing their mauling prowess as, from a lineout on the 22 they barrelled over allowing Jonny Hanson to score and Sam Roger to extend the lead to 7-12. The game then got a little bogged down between the 22s as both sides struggled to put together some fluid phases of play and the game was punctuated with scrums and penalties. Syston's cross field kicking tactics were simple to defuse and from one Bagshaw was able to make 40m up the touchline but his try scoring pass to the ever willing Harry Roberts was intercepted by a retreating defender. This did however lead to Chester's third score. As Syston attempted to attack a poor pass allowed the ever vigilant Vare to hack forward and regather the ball deep in the home sides 22. A quick recycle and good vision and passing skills from Tommy Ellis put flanker Oli Powell over. Roger's conversion was successful and there was now daylight between the sides on the scoreboard. A 7-19 halftime score was a good reward for an effective defensive performance and the ability to take chances when the home side erred in their accuracy. The try bonus point was secured almost immediately at the start of the second half when a deft Rogers chip over the onrushing defence wasn't cleared up by the home cover and centre Ben Ivory was able to use his footballing skills and score under the posts. With club captain Harry Craven on to manage the game, Chester were able, for the most part to keep Syston at bay, although injuries threatened to disrupt Chester's organisation. With the unfortunate injury to Davies, Chester were a little underpowered and this allowed home flanker Luke Stewart to dot down following another driving maul and, to their credit, the home side continued to be competitive and gained a losing bonus point with the last play of the game with yet another close range score from replacement hooker Wilbourn.