The West pack certainly had the edge. They dominated the scrums and took four balls against the head including two when we were down to only seven men in the pack.

But it was Chester’s speedy and talented backs who took advantage of anything which came their way running in five tries to West’s one.

With vice-captain Anth Carr unable to play we brought in Ross Wood in the front row with Andrew Foreman returning at outside centre.

We got off to a dreadful start when a long range penalty from Chester’s Lloyd Hayes hit the woodwork and bounced back towards the 22. Chester’s Huw Grundy was the first to react and as he hacked on a host of West players dithered and as the ball was fumbled over the line Grundy pounced. Hayes managed to miss the conversion from virtually in front of the posts.

 Stu Waites and Hayes both scored penalties each as the game settled with the West pack giving some hope.

That was until another hen a line out throw went straight to the back where Chester scrum half Will Goodwin gratefully accepted the opportunity and sent Grundy in for his second try which was converted to make it 15-3 to the visitors.

Skiper Dan Boatman was in the bin at this point -after reacting to being taken out as we attacked up the left  - and two minutes later and almost on half time they went further ahead with a disputed try on the right. West claimed that winger Tom Evans had put a foot in touch ed in andthe  referee lectured Chocky Davies for dissent and then ordered a penalty restart as Andrew Foreman continued to grumble in the background

It all left West with a mountain to climb in the second half aswe trailed 22-3 at the break.

They took to the task manfully and were spent some time in the visiting 22 for some time but excellent defence kept them at bay.

Chester eventually relieved the pressure and scored again. This time it was an unaccustomed rolling maul which saw second row John Mackenzie emerge triumphant top gain his side a try bonus point.

West did finally get the try their pressure deserved in the 65th minute when replacement second row Ben Lloyd took a crash ball ten metres out and powered his way over with Waites scoring an excellent conversion from wide on the right.

With Andrew Dixon in the bin for killing the ball that was to be it for us as Tom Foden showed his class to burst through the midfield with three minutes left on the clock.

West: Colin Cheslin, Scott Butcher, Andrew Foreman, Greg Edwards, Peter Youll, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter,  Ross Wood, Carr, Andrew Dixon, Adam Coates, Andrew Davies, Michael Hogan, Dan Boatman [capt], Nathan Myers, Jon Boatman. Reps: Ben Lloyd, Sam Miller, Tom Armstrong.

Tries: Lloyd

Conversions: Waites [1]

Penalties Waites [1]

Yellow cards: Jon Boatman, Andrew Dixon.

Chester: Pat Coy, Lloyd Hayes, Tom Foden, Huw Grundy, Tom Evans, Rhys Hayes, Will Goodwin, John Shirley, Andy Moore (C), James Whitelock-Wainwright, Tom Gregory, John Mackenzie, Aled Zachary, Mike Craven, Will Bown. Reps: Gareth Smith, Paul Sherlock, Sean Green

Tries: Grundy [2], Evans, Mackenzie, Foden.

Conversions: Lloyd Hayes [2 ], Rhys Hayes [1]

Penalties Lloyd Hayes [1]