Green provides a bonus as Ionians maintain their challenge for title

Full-back Michael Bateman struck first and scrum-half Isaac Green converted but Chester hit back through right winger Craig Ross, with stand-off Rhys Hayes adding the conversion.

After Green had added a 24th-minute penalty, he converted a try by winger Steve Slingsby, who added a second just before the break.

Scrum-half Matthew Walsh raced in on 48 minutes as Chester battled back, Hayes adding the conversion, but a penalty try on 71 minutes was converted by Green as Ionians secured a bonus point and a 29-14 victory.

Hull slipped to a 34-12 defeat at Broadstreet.

Jeff Gregson and Aaron Crofts scored for the hosts to give them a half-time lead and they added a third through Nick Thatcher just one minute into the restart.

Hull’s Tom Rice crossed on 48 minutes but further tries from Thatcher, Ben Palmer and Andy Murray took the game away from them. Glen Kenworthy scored a consolation for Hull.

Otley found Leicester Lions’ pack a handful but won 31-21 despite having a 16-point lead overhauled.

Lions winger Luke Veebel soon crossed but Stephen Depledge kicked three penalties and centre Henry Roberts and Harry Hudson crossed for tries.

The Lions, who had seen one player sin-binned, hit back with tries from replacements Timothy Douglas and Ben Spokes and No 8 Robert Young.

Michael Hogan converted the latter to give them the lead but a second yellow card helped Otley win through a try from Freddie Watson and a penalty try.

Huddersfield suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, 48-7 against second-placed Ampthill.

The hosts dominated possession and by the halfway stage, Huddersfield were already 31-0 down.

Improved spirit in the second half at least forced Ampthill into defence more regularly and Huddersfield were able to get some points on the board through full-back Tom Hodson. However, they were unable to prevent the home side overhauling their previous highest defeat of the season – 47-7 at Otley in October.

A full-strength Harrogate put on their worst display of the season in slumping 21-12 to Preston Grasshoppers.

For all their possession Harrogate lacked a cutting edge, while Preston seemed to score on every attack. Despite a strong defence performance in the second half ‘Gate could not break out until they were awarded a late penalty try. Kerry Wood scored Harrogate’s opening try from the back of a maul.