Chester started like a rocket. After only 2 minutes quick lineout ball off the top allowed No8 Guy Ford to make a clean midfield break. Efficient recycles then allowed centre Ben Ivory to carve an outside arc to score. Rotherham gradually came to life, but not before a dominant home scrum allowed prop Alec Reed to rumble over.
Fully awake in the second quarter, the visitors scored after 27 minutes. From a lineout the ball was passed quickly to centre Jamie Cooke. He stepped right, through a defensive gap at the back of the lineout, and made a weaving 40 metre break to carve through a disorganised defence. Rotherham then scored from a driven lineout to even the scores.
The visitors started the second period bristling with intent and organisation, dominating the 3rdquarter in a five minute purple patch. First fullback Lloyd Hayes ran back a loose kick through a fragmented chase, setting up a 5-on-2 for Keifer Laxton to score. Then a telegraphed Chester pass was intercepted by alert Rotherham winger Connor Field, who crossed untouched from halfway. Finally, Jamie Cooke made a powerful break through midfield for his second.
At 12-31 the visitors looked set to pull away further. Chester’s line speed had slowed. They had lost their earlier scrum dominance, and they were losing the breakdown. But, to their credit they showed their fitness and resilience, holding out for the final half hour, and managing a fine second try by Ben Ivory at the death.