Crewe and Nantwich 4th 5 Holmes Chapel 60

LEADERS Holmes Chapel flexed their muscles in a table-topping battle with Crewe and Nantwich.

With both teams going into the Division Five South contest unbeaten and level on points, it was a highly accomplished display that saw Chapel turn around 38-5 in front.

From the moment captain Tom Chambers booted a clearing kick into the home half, the even nature of the opening exchanges ended.

A loose ball was collected by winger Gavin Paton for the first try, converted by Andy Davies.

Good attacking play from second rows Mark McEnaney and man of the match Dan Martin, as well as number eight Jack Baskerville, ensured the visitors’ dominance despite one try conceded from a pushover scrum.

Winger Jed Wragg and fly half James McLennon each sealed for themselves hat-tricks of tries, while Chambers chipped in to the scoring with a brace of his own.

The home side did provide their guests with a few scares in the second half, mainly as a result of missed tackles, but they could not take advantage as the men from Station Road maintained this season’s average of conceding less than six points per game.

Crewe & Nantwich can take over at the top of the table again if they win at third-placed Congleton seconds this weekend.

Chapel make their return to action at home to Linley thirds on Saturday week.

That will be their final North West Intermediate League encounter of the year.

Chapel: Ian Lightfoot, Almond, Mitchell, McEnaney, Martin, Dom Moss, Chambers, Baskerville, Davies, McLennon, Morison, Mike Lightfoot, Jim Moss, Paton, Wragg. Replacements: Ball, Henderson, Griffin, Grant-Smith, Gormley, Maddock.