Bournville’s search for a first away win of the season with defeat in this thud and blunder contest at Hare Lane.
The game was lost when Nathan Decalmer pounced for a late interception try but it came too late to salvage a losing bonus point which Bournville probably deserved.
Instead Bournville returned home empty-handed and were left to reflect on handling errors, game management and poor discipline in a match that they dominated for long periods.
Poor discipline allowed James Preston to kick Chester into an early lead with two penalties in the first 13 minutes and again when a series of penalties allowed Chester to build the pressure which led to centre Ben Ivory burrowing over for the opening try after 26 minutes which Preston converted.
Rain during the interval added to the numbing cold made handling difficult for both sides and may have explained why Chris Idehen lost the ball with the line at his mercy after Bournville had sliced upon the home defence.
Bournville turned down three kickable penalties, instead opting to use their dominant scrum to put Chester under pressure on their 22.
But Chester’s well-organised defence held firm and Bournville eventually took the pragmatic option when they were awarded another penalty and this time Jacob Fewtrell took the three points.
That kick got Bournville in the game but not for long. Ben Meakin was sin-binned for obstruction and Chester made their numerical advantage count by working loosehead prop Josh Woods over from a five-metre lineout.
Although Preston was unable to add the conversion Bournville still needed three scores in the final quarter to snatch the win.
Decalmer was bundled into touch in the corner after 72 minutes but made no mistake when Chester tried to run the ball from their own line and he nipped in to dot down for an unconverted try.
With injuries and unavailability ruling out six front-row forwards Bournville had to bring Head Coach Matt Price out of retirement to fill a place on the bench.
The former Northampton Saints, Bedford Blues, Rugby Lions and Coventry hooker was still registered with Bournville even though he had not played for five years.
Happily, Price was not required here but his presence as a replacement ensured the requirement to have five players capable of playing in the front-row in the matchday 20 was fulfilled.
Price was relieved that he was not required but frustrated by the performance ahead of two big pre-Christmas matches against Hornets at Avery Fields next Saturday and Dudley Kingswinford away on December 16.
“We just didn’t execute when we needed to. We had a bit of ascendancy in the first-half when they were down to seven in the scrum, we had a scrum on their line and we didn’t convert from that. They also got a lot of energy from that,” Price said.
“There were key points in the game where we didn’t convert our pressure. If you don’t do that on tight games you are not going to win games and we were never really in it today.
“There are two massive games coming up. Mentally we have got to prepare and get right for those.
“We have to approach them with the same mentality that we had for Camborne and Clifton at home. If we do that we will be in good stead. Today we didn’t have that, the balance was in their favour. We have to shift that and get the balance in our favour.”
