Vare’s no other way as Chester triumph

Chester ........ 26 Otley .............. 12

secured the tryscoring bonus point at the death as they eased to maximum points against Otley at Hare Lane.

The home side took charge from the outset, prop Shaun Strudwick first on the scoresheet after a textbook driving maul saw him touch down after eight minutes, with Callum Bennett adding the conversion to lead 7-0.

No.8 David Ford picked up from the back of the scrum to add a second soon after, Bennett’s conversion making it 14-0 to the hosts.

Two penalties from fullCHESTER back Tomas Hodson edged Otley into the game, but a third Chester try from Will Brown before the break gave the hosts plenty of breathing room.

Bennett this time couldn’t add the extras but the home side looked on course for back-to-back league victories as they stretched out

to a 19-6 advantage.

Otley continued to contest after the restart with another three points from Hodson reducing the deficit.

Scrum-half Max Johnson then added another three points for the visitors from the kicking tee, bringing them within a converted score at 19-12.

Nevertheless, there was time for the hosts to secure the bonus point as winger Harrison Vare dotted down four minutes from fulltime.

To round off the excellent display, Bennett this time converted confidently, 26-12.