The Gladiators started brightly and deservedly opened the scoring through centre Lee Tasker after just five minutes.

Loose forward Martin Cormack doubled the advantage a couple of minutes later with a well worked try out wide and when South African stand off Mike Lillenfield crashed over from close range Chester appeared to be in total control.

But the home side got themselves back in the game following a smart break by their winger which resulted in a try in the corner. North Derbyshire reduced the deficit even further on the half hour mark following a burst from dummy half.

With half time approcaching prop Jim Green, returning to the field after a spell on the sidelines following a clash of heads, collected a pass from James Wrathall and waltzed over the line for his first try of the season to settle the Gladiators nerves and send the visitors into the break with an eight point advantage.

Chester made the perfect start to the second half after the Chargers winger knocked on from the kick off. From the resultant scrum the Gladiators shifted the ball out wide and Wrathall touched down in the corner.

The lead was extended again as Cormack split the North Derbyshire defensive line to touch down under the posts for his second try of the game and a historic Chester win appeared to be on the cards.

However, the Gladiators allowed the home side back into the game shortly afterwards. The Chargers scored two tries in quick succession and when Chester forward Dave Thomas was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul North Derbyshire took advantage to run in a further try and level the scores.

The momentum was now firmly with the home side and Chester were forced into some desperate defence as they battled to stay in the game with just twelve men on the field.

But a surging run and try by the impressive Cormack, who finished the match with a hattrick, swung the game back in Chester's favour. Jim Green secured the win with the final try of the game and his second of the match as he wrestled his way over the Chargers line to seal the points for the Gladiators.

Lillenfield was named man of the match but there were a host of impressiver performers for Chester with second row John Gill and 16-year-old Tom Hayden deserving plenty of praise for some strong running.

The victory lifts Chester into ninth position in the table and the Gladiators return to action on Saturday 26th July when they travel north to face Wigan Riversiders in an RL Merit League clash. The two sides met earlier this season with the table topping Riversiders running out 50-16 winners at Hare Lane.

Squad

1. Bud Skinkis
2. Tom Hayden
3. Lee Tasker
4. Dan Lewis
5. Dan Greenwood
6. Mike Lillenfield
7. James Wrathall
8. Steve Sandbach
9. Sam Philp
10. Jim Green
11. John Gill
12. Jay Reano
13. Martin Cormack

14. Stuart Davies
15. Ray Tindall
16. Dave Thomas

Scorers

Tries - Lee Tasker, Martin Cormack (3), Mike Lillenfield, Jim Green (2) & James Wrathall

Goals - Mike Lillenfield (2/8)