A scintilating first half performance from Chester proved the catalyst for their 32-0 home victory over West Hartlepool.

Chester came into the contest in impressive form and they continued that against a shell-shocked visiting outfit, who had few answers to the dominance of the home side.

Lloyd Hayes was recalled to his usual position of inside centre in the one change made by Chester, who used the lack of disruption to put West Hartlepool to the sword.

It could have been an altogether different 80 minutes had the visiting side capitalised on an early mistake by Chester, but the home side produced some outstanding defence to thwart Hartlepool’s try scoring efforts.

Chester made Hartlepool pay for their failure to cross the whitewash as they put seven points on the board.

Hayes played an incisive one-two with Sean Green before unloading for Tom Seddon to cross, Liam McGovern converting.

Four minutes later McGovern stretched the lead to 10 points with a well struck penalty from 35 meters after West were penalised for offside, and from that point onwards the whole of the first half was one-way traffic.

Josh Leach made the most of a loose ball to pick out man of the match Gaz Martin and after he was hauled down, second-row Ross White picked up the baton and crashed over.

West Hartlepool were given a brief reprise but they missed a penalty, and moments later they were again back under the kosh as Chester put more points on the board.

McGovern was instrumental in everything positive his side was doing and his probing kicks and darting runs were keeping the West defence honest.

When Chester were awarded a penalty that was easily kickable his positivity encouraged to push the kick into the corner.

The forwards were unable to take clean line out ball but they didn't give up and the pressure forced a poor kick from the visitors, McGovern fielded the ball and his half break found Andy Moore in support and the Chester skipper scored under the posts allowing for an easy conversion for the creator.

From the kick off West carried the ball into the Chester half but big second row Llion Jones was not in the mood to let them carry it far and he ripped the ball cleanly from his opposite number and broke free, finding Will Bown who picked out scrum-half Leach to cross the whitewash.

Chester extended their lead to 32 points right on half time when a huge up and under from McGovern caused disarray in the West defence and prop Ben Williams took advantage to run to within 30 metres of the line, before passing to Martin who found Tom Evans, and the winger dotted down.

Chester shut up shop after the interval and West Hartlepool, try as they might, were unable to get a foothold in the game.