Stockport under 14's were denied the opportunity to face each other in the final of the Cheshire Cup after coming within a hairs breadth of achieving an unlikely win at Chester.

In a rivalry that goes all they way back to the under 8 final at Macclesfield recent seasons has seen Stockport come out on top against Chester after playing serial bridesmaids to the triple Cup winners, barring one good semi final win last year any Stockport Chester match is rarely settled by anything more than a single score and so it proved again.

In a first half completely dominated by Chester their single unconverted try was the only score of a relentless first half that saw Stockport concede a world record number of penalties however the never say die attitude of the Stockport boys saw the line breached just once in the hope the slope would be enough to turn the tie around in the second half.

The second half started with Stockport very much in the ascendancy and in came as no surprise when No 8 Navid Mousavi Khoshrou forced his way over early in the half to see Stockport in to a 7-5 lead. That lead should have been eradicated after the home side they were not allowed to take 3 points from a simple penalty. The game then opened up as legs began to tire but with tiring legs the indiscipline of both sides started to show with 4 yellow cards being shown in a 5 minute period.

With just 5 minutes remaining Chesters own man mountain Josh McAndrew broke clear on the left to score in the corner that saw a brilliant touch line conversion to take the score out to 12-7 to the home side.
For the last 5 minutes it was Chesters turn to defend and give away at least 10 penalties in a chaotic 5 minutes that became Navid v Chesters entire 8 with the Chester pack ultimately winning the battle. A few more cool heads and Stockport would and should have done it but full credit to Chester who now face Stockport Reds in what we know will be another single score classic.

Another classic game and good luck to the Chester boys in the final and I can't believe Sedbergh wont let Miles play in the final!