Holmes Chapel 78-0 New Brighton 2nd

HOLMES Chapel kept alive their faint hopes of being promoted for at least another week following a 12-try demolition of New Brighton seconds last weekend.

They conclude the campaign at Sefton seconds on Saturday, when a victory for Altrincham Kersal against Winnington Park would put second spot out of reach.

The men from Station Road at least make that trip buoyed by their biggest win of the season in North West Intermediate League Division Two South.

Dave Steer burst through to dot down a first try before Joe Baskerville added to their early lead following fine approach play by Dan Martin and Jim Moss.

Mark McEnaney was next to go over, with Andy Davies adding a conversion.

New Brighton, at risk of being relegated, battled without a reward.

Further tries before the break followed for McEnaney and veteran hooker Neil Almond to make it 31-0.

The pattern did not change after the interval, and Steer doubled his personal tally after running a neat line.

The hosts continued to rack up points, and McEnaney and Steer both completed hat-tricks as their guests tired.

Baskerville went over again too, while Kyran Davies also got his name on the score-sheet late on.

The men from Station Road sent on Eric Yung from the bench before the finish, and they kept out New Brighton during the closing stages.

Davies converted nine of the tries during a reliable display.

Chapel sit third in the table, four points adrift of Altrincham ahead of them.

However their rivals have two games left.