Knutsford Rugby Club team lose 57-41 at Chester 3rds

Six players who graduated from the colts last year started the game due to Knutsford continuing to suffer from widespread unavailability from the normal starting line-up.

The game started well for home side Chester as Knutsford were pinned back by two early tries scored from the direct and big Chester team.

The response though was impeccable from Knutsford, with a fantastic break by Sam Cook in the midfield after a great lineout by Stefano Spinola and Declan Mcloughlan. Cook found the supporting Alex Davies and he scored the first of six unanswered scores for the away side.

Knutsford were unstoppable for most of the first half despite playing uphill.

Tony Evans (Image: Tony Evans)

The halfback pairing of Marques and Cook dictated the game and Knutsford retained the ball well, with Alex Hornby and Steve Barlow creating strong dents in the opposition then the back row of McLoughlin and Cameron Smyth dragging the defence further apart.

It was then that Knutsford's backs could strike blow after blow.

Cook was next to score with a carving run through the midfield.

Tom Lowe scored his first try for Knutsford after some good hands by winger Gianluca Edwards.

Davies and Marques added further tries as did Dominic Owen and Edwards to take a half-time lead into the break.

Facing downhill with the wind the prospect of further tries looked promising for Knutsford but tiredness kicked in and Chester rallied.

Knutsford were starved of any ball for 20 minutes and Chester ran in several tries.

The scoring was then tit for tat, Cook going over again for his brace after finding space and Lewis Davies added a score in the 63rd minute.

The game changed when Cook saw red for the first time in his career for retaliating to some Chester violent conduct, and Knutsfiord faced the last 17 minutes a man short.

No surprises that Chester were able to take advantage and Knutsford conceded two tries in the final quarter of the game to see a lead and potential win squandered.