HOLMES Chapel rugby team demonstrated their defensive work in training is paying off when defeating Liverpool Collegiate 29-0.

The match, relocated to Congleton Rugby Club at the last minute after Chapel's pitch was deemed unplayable in one patch by the referee, saw Chapel progress their challenge for a promotion spot and extend their unbeaten run of matches to eight.

Although the game had a scrappy element to it, Chapel were able to start well with Tom Chambers pouncing on a loose ball and getting over the line unopposed.

The boys in blue were putting some good passages of play together, however a few chances went begging before Conor Gavin clambered over the Liverpool defence.

This was quickly followed by another try, this time for skipper Dom Moss who picked up at the back of a scrum and sped through the gap that opened up for him. Andy Davies slotted the conversion for 17-0.

Chapel finished the first half strongly with leading try scorer Luke Cheetham defying his opposite winger and scoring in the corner for the 13th time this season.

The second half started with a yellow card for centre Mike Lightfoot, who could justifiably feel disgruntled by the decision.

This set the tone for the second half as Chapel had next to no possession, and a string of penalties led Liverpool Collegiate to be camped in Holmes Chapel’s half.

However, Chapel's defence was resilient and well organised, and no matter how many times the opposition ran at them, they kept on getting knocked back.

In the last five minutes of the game Chapel were able to end their frustrating half positively after a move off the back of the scrum led to Harry Dyson spotting a gap through the middle. Davies got the conversion too.

A frustrating match at times but with positives to take away from it, in particular the outstanding defence displayed throughout the match.

Man-of-the-match flanker Dan Partington led the defence from the front.