With the weather on our side we started with the ball and with Otto Zorn as dummy half sending the ball left and right, progress was made towards the line by Rafa Van Osselear and Max Follows. Despite valiant efforts, Bank Quay kept us out.

With the ball Bank Quay charged the Chester line testing the defences time and again. Alex Woodbury, Dylan Yearsley and Luke Johnson worked hard making the first tackle supported by Reuben Swan Buchan and Sepp Karnik. This set the scene for the rest of what turned out to be a hard match.

In practice the team have been working on offloads and supporting one another in the tackle and it was great to see this being put into action. On one play, the ball was recycled through four hands with Luca Lampard touching it twice. A brilliant demonstration of skill and determination.

In the second-half the Gladiators strength and stamina began to show, Reuben Swan Buchan holding the tackle to enable the line to be set. Then with the line calling 'set in' as one voice the Bulls were held in their own half for the last sets of the game.

Coach Chris Buchan said: "The score was no reflection of the effort and concentration that the lads put in today. They continue to translate Monday night's training sessions into action."

Chester Gladiators would like to thank Bank Quay Bulls for a great match.