SEDGLEY Tigers suffered a setback to their promotion hopes when they went down 24-12 at high-flying Chester on Saturday.

The hosts are second in National League Division Two with the victory extending the gap between them and the Whitefield side in seventh to 13 points.

From Sedgley's point of view the defeat has given the table a different complexion from before the game when a victory would have put them right in the thick of the top four and within striking distance of Chester.

It was an archetypal game of two halves on Saturday with the Park Lane outfit building up a 12-0 half-time lead before conceding 24 unanswered points in the second period.

With centre Matt Riley working well to move the ball away from danger areas Sedgley nullified the home side early on and grew into the game with fly-half Steve Collins becoming increasingly influential.

Chester had a man yellow carded after 27 minutes and the Tigers capitalised with wing Leon Simpson scoring an unconverted try in the corner.

With the home side back up to full strength, Tigers powered over in the corner with front row Nathan Rushton touching down and Collins converting.

Chester scored an unconverted try after the interval and took a seven-point lead with two more in the 64th and 68th minutes, one of which was converted.

With the game still there for Sedgley to take something from, they threatened with a speedy burst by Collins and a penalty in the home 22 in the last minute.

But, instead of it resulting in points for the Whitefield men, it was the home side who extended their lead.

Sedgley elected for a scrum but lost possession and Chester scored a try.