Chester made the long trip to Corbridge to take on Tynedale on Saturday and came away with the win after a thoroughly professional performance. Coach Rhys Hayes would have been looking for a reaction after a lacklustre display at Hare Lane the week previously against Harrogate. The players will also have been made aware not only of the big win the home side had had away at Lymm, but also the manner of the try scoring with 4 scores coming from driving mauls.
In the reverse fixture in October, Chester ran out fairly convincing winners and although the scoreline was much closer in this game, Chester were really good value for the win and only a converted try deep into stoppage time gave Tynedale 2 bonus points. The reality was the game was well won before that.
Chester were quick out of the blocks following the journey and hooker Scott Robson dotted down following a quick tap penalty close to the line. Fly half Morgan Bagshaw, who had a fine game, added the conversion. Tynedale set about utilising their set-piece forward dominance but it took until the end of the first quarter for Robson's opposite number, Harrison Wood to be at the back of a rolling maul and score. Cameron Grant converted to level the scores up.
Chester then varied the script and good tactical kicking and pitch wide passing movements with an aim of shifting the larger home forwards around paid fulsome dividend as first, flanker Harry Graham found himself as the last man out wide and scored and this was swiftly followed by Harrison Vare, all bustle and pace, crossing the whitewash. Bagshaw landed both conversions to extend Chester's lead to 7-21.
When in range of the Chester try-line, Tynedale showed the ever present danger of the driving maul and just before half time Wood was again ushered over the line for an unconverted score.
Tynedale began brightly in the second period and briefly led following an early penalty for not releasing and a converted score from wing Alex Dryden. However, Chester's 2nd half tactics worked to a tee. Play all the rugby in the opposition half, harry and tackle everything in blue and white and keep penalties to a minimum. Man of the Match Dave Jones from No8 was tigerish over the ball and led with some thunderous tackling to keep the home side penned in their own half. He was ably supported by locks Chris Deehan and Will Hurn who both ran with purpose knocking defenders back in contact. Tynedale's lead was brief, just over a minute and in the space of 5 minutes Chester extended their scoreboard presence to 29 with a penalty from fullback Sam Earl-Jones and a converted try from skipper Harry Craven, taking a quick tap penalty after Tynedale were penalised for not releasing after a kick ahead.
In the final 20 minutes, Chester controlled the ball and field position, refusing to allow Tynedale out of their own half. As the clock ticked into the red Tynedale were finally able to convert red zone penalties into a driving scrum under the posts and No8 Owen Vassallo scored with Grant converting.
Pic credit John and Barbara Austin