Seconds out of luck at Chester

Chester III XV 22 Widnes II XV 12 WIDNES’S second-team suffered a fourth consecutive away loss as they went down 22-12 to Chester’s third XV in dreadful weather last Saturday afternoon.

The visitors started the brighter and the opening 20 minutes was spent largely in the Chester half of the field as Widnes applied the pressure early on.

The pressure told as Wids’ forward pack took control.

Man-of-the-match Ryan Stokes opening the scoring with a fine solo effort. The returning Tom Beech added the extra two for a perfect Widnes start.

Chester replied with a breakaway try.

And they were on the scoresheet again with an unconverted try on the last play of the half after an apparent knock-on at the scrum was missed.

Chester extended their lead just after half-time as Widnes tapped a penalty and then kicked possession away, allowing Chester’s full-back to kick over the top and outpace the covering Adam Watson to score.

Widnes did hit back via Simon Buckle, who touched down a brilliant Beech crossfield kick to score on his debut.

That was as good as it got for the away side in the second period as a number of poor decisions and mistakes cost them as Chester kicked a penalty to close the game out with a 22-12.

Speaking after the game, head coach, Dan Newall, said: “We are very frustrated again after today’s game. It is the fourth week in a row we have come off the pitch having played well.

“Nobody let us down but yet again we have come away with nothing. We need to start turning these good performances into results.

“We started the game really well, we were in control doing the right things at the right times and sticking to our game plan that we spoke out and have been working on in training.

“We just went away from that a little bit in the second half.

“We have Aldwinians and then Altrincham Kersal over the next two weeks they are right at the top of the table so we need two big weeks at training and two quality performances.”