Match Report - Chester RUFC v Harrogate
Dee Sport
Sunday, 5 March 2023 - 6 minutes
So after beating Preston Grasshoppers 37-31 at Hare Lane, this week Chester were back on the road to play Harrogate who are currently in 13th place, second from bottom, in National League 2 North. Chester who were 5th, travelled to Harrogate full of confidence on their current league form.
The game got off to a slow start for Chester with Harrogate taking the lead with a penalty making the score 3-0. They further stretched their lead with a try and conversion making it 10-0. Chester struck back with when two penalties were awarded in succession. Both were converted from the trusty boot of Liam Reeve making the overall score 10-6, with the game poised nicely for Chester to battle back in the second half.
After the break, the home side went further ahead 15-6, before Liam Reeve converted another penalty for Chester. After a scuffle that broke out between both sides, the referee deem that George Baxter was the man responsible for starting it and he was given a straight red card.
So with Chester down to 14 men, it made their task more difficult to win the game but they still reduced the deficit to 18-12 before Ben Ivory crossed the line with a try to make the score 18-17 but unfortunately, Liam Reeve couldn’t convert due to the tight angle for the ball to go over the Harrogate sticks. Although Chester fought hard with 14 men, Harrogate stretched their lead further just before the end of the second half to make the full time score 21-17.
Chester remain in 5th place in National League North 2 and next week are back at Hare Lane to take on 3rd placed Hull Ionians.
After the game, Head Coach Guy Ford spoke to Steve Lord on Dee Sport...
