Holmes Chapel rugby welcome Broughton Park to Station Road and knew they were in for a tough game. With wet and windy conditions Chapel knew it was going to be a tricky afternoon and that keeping the ball was key.

A early penalty just inside the opposition half led to a chance for Kieran Aston to have a shot at the posts. He duly slotted the ball through the uprights with a fine kick to give the home side a 3-0 lead. Not long after chapel had a period of pressure near the visitors line, Conor Gavin making good yards put chapel only a metre from the try line. Despite dogged defence from Broughton, Chapel got the ball to Ally Lightfoot and it was 8-0

Broughton Park is a club steeped in history with an amazing rugby ethic. It was no different this afternoon as the men in black and white fought for every ball and showed some neat rugby of their own, keeping the home side’s defence honest, but it was Chapel who secured possession finally punching through the visitors defence as the backs got the ball out wide to Matthew Partington who beat several on coming defenders showing great strength for a fine try under the posts, Aston added the extras and then shortly after on the half hour mark added another penalty to make it 18-0

Park dusted themselves off and came out fighting again putting pressure on the boys in blue and gold. They got the ball out wide with some slick handling giving their winger some space, he didn’t need a second invitation as he out sprinted the chapel defence and reduced the deficit 18-5

Just before half time Chapel again had good possession, Nathan Stewart at full back catching the high ball and returning with interest. The Chapel pack pushed forwards, Luke shaw giving quick ball to Kane Helyar who powered through several tackles to cross and it was 23-5 at the break.

The half time team talk was more of the same please as Holmes Chapel RUFC were playing some great rugby in difficult conditions. They knew they had to keep honest in defence as Broughton Park had showed they can play some good rugby of their own. However, a good start to the second half ensued as Darren Halstead pierced the visitors defence setting up good ball for the forward who produced some effected phased rugby crashing the ball in through the pods until Captain Liam Gavin bulldozed his way through and it was 30-5 after Aston had converted.

The visitors then produced more good rugby of their own, testing the Chapel line and very nearly getting over. Haydon Tunney leading the defensive line with some big tackles, supported Jim Bowbeer and Lewis Polles but the visitors were determined to get back in to the game and that’s exactly what they did bursting through after some good hands to reduce the deficit. 30-10

From the kick off Chapel broke away down field Shaw with some excellent support play passing to Liam Gavin who again fended off the gutsy defence and crossed for another converted score 37-10. The conditions had if anything got worse and it was a testament to both sides who continued to give their all and play fine rugby. It was the home side who continued to mount pressure camping in the visitors 22 as Lightfoot again pounced to make it 44-10. This was shortly followed by another Gavin try and a hatrick for the captain 49-10

With 10 minutes of the game left Broughton Park played their best rugby, recycling the ball and causing defensive problems as they broke through tackles and moved their way up field scoring a well deserved try 44-17. They were not done there though and as Chapel tried to move the ball through the back line, Broughton Park’s Rai Bennett intercepted the ball and charged down field unselfishly giving the ball to his support player and Broughton had another converted try 49-24. The Black and Whites continued in the last few minutes to put pressure on, but when Chapel gained a penalty for holding on, they were happy to put the ball out and take the victory.

Holmes Chapel RUFC would like to thank all their sponsors and Pickford Plant Hire for sponsoring today’s game and the supporters who braved the conditions. The club would also like to thank Broughton Park RUFC for a great game and the referee who both teams agreed was superb throughout. Next week Chapel travel away to Stockport with an earlier kick off time of 2.15pm

Scorers

Tries:
Gavin L 3
Lightfoot 2
Partington 1
Helyar 1

Conversions:
Aston 4

Penalties:
Aston 2

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