Holmes Chapel 50-21 Village Spartans 21

HOLMES Chapel remain unbeaten during 2017, and closed a gap to table-toppers Widnes after recording a fourth win from their past five games last weekend.

They had to be patient at Station Road against stubborn guests that defended stoutly, and a breakthrough did not happen until after half an hour.

Tom Chambers, supporting Dom Moss, was a grateful recipient of his captain’s off-load and raced to the line.

A further two tries followed before the break, Joe Foulkes claiming the pick of those after second row Mark McEnaney’s break, to which Andy Davies added the extras in establishing a 21-0 lead.

Chapel allowed their intensity to drop in the second period, and conceded two well-worked tries as a result.

They responded though, regaining control of the contest when Conor Gavin intercepted a long pass before powering over the whitewash between the posts.

The teams traded tries, Jim Moss dotting down for Chapel, before the home team showed their superior stamina in the closing stages.

Further efforts from Jim Bowbeer, McEnaney and Nath Stewart, the final name on the score-sheet, were their reward.

Meanwhile Widnes seconds played out a 24-24 draw with their Manchester counterparts, leaving them three points better off than Chapel in the North West Intermediate League’s Division Three South standings.

The campaign resumes on Saturday week, March 4.

Chapel’s seconds are scheduled to host Acton the same day.