Hoppers grounded after missing late conversion
Preston G…………….. 30 Chester…………………32
CHESTER made a winning return to the National 2 North, where they edged out Preston Grasshoppers by two points after a thriller.
Hoppers started the match strong, Harry Holden scoring off the maul just five minutes in.
Chester got their first points with a Morgan Bagshaw penalty, before Preston replied through Greg Smith.
The rest of the half was all Chester. Bagshaw added three points, before Rhys Hamilton scored two tries, cutting through the middle of the defence twice to extend the lead to 12 at halftime, Scott Richardson being shown a yellow for Hoppers between them.
But despite being a man down, Hoppers flew out with Holden grabbing his second almost immediately.
Chester found space with their extra man out wide and Joe Heaton restored the lead.
Preston hadn’t given up, and after sustained pressure, Holden grabbed his hat-trick, and the sides were level again when Owain Williams scored a brilliant diving finish into the corner.
Chester would put the lead back to seven with Josh Woods scoring their final try.
Hoppers could have levelled at the death when Cam Wilkinson scored the teams fifth, but came up short when Smith’s kick drifted wide of the posts.
REFEREE: Daniel Woods ATTENDANCE: 267
Star man Harry Holden -Preston G
TEAMS
PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS: Lightowler, O Williams, Russell, J Maher, Spence, Smith, Harrison, W Williams, Holden, Guest, Murray, Norrington, O’ryan, Wilkinson, Richardson Replacements: Ashdown, Jones, Procter, Browne, M Maher CHESTER: Long, Heaton, McMinimee, Hamilton, Williams, Bagshaw, Craven, Woods, Hanson, Cleverley, Spalding, Wilkinson, Jones, Roberts, Graham Replacements: Clarke, Furnival, Deehan, Ellis, Ivory
