Carrington 16-42 Holmes Chapel

HOLMES Chapel recovered from the blow of losing to the leaders by turning in a stylish second-half display on Saturday.

They prevented in-form hosts, unbeaten in their previous half-dozen North West Intermediate League matches, from scoring a point after the interval.

It keeps the men from Station Road second in the Division Three South standings ahead of a visit from Dukinfield’s second string this weekend.

The teams were evenly-matched during the opening period at Carrington, where Andy Davies slotted a penalty in reply to a pair of three-pointers for the home team.

Will Mitchell then scored two identical tries, both following rehearsed lineout moves, to edge Chapel ahead.

However their opponents responded with a well-worked backs try.

They led 16-15 after converting another penalty, only for second row Mark McEnaney to force his way over the whitewash from close range to establish an interval lead.

Chapel sent on replacements Jim Bowbeer, Dan Henderson and returning Jack Baskerville for the second period.

Skipper Dom Moss was dominant at lineouts, stealing possession regularly from Carrington, while hooker Ollie Lawrence did the same at the scrum.

Jack Cottam was first to a grubber kick to dot down a try, then centre Nic Clawson added a brace of scores.

Moss crossed too as Chapel assumed control, both at set pieces and in open play.

Davies completed the scoring, in the same way he’d opened it, by kicking a penalty.

Meanwhile Jed Wragg and Steve Hatton were among the try-scorers for Holmes Chapel’s seconds as they extended a winning sequence to three matches with a 36-0 success against struggling Linley thirds.

They host Old Bedians thirds on Saturday, kick off 3pm.