MIDDLESBROUGH survived a big scare on Saturday before emerging with the home win which lifted them two places in their battle against relegation.

They led 10-0 at home to Chester, only to have prop Craig Chapman sent off and trail 15-10 before fighting back to beat the team who are third in National Three North.

Boro, who have now beaten all the top three sides, played some of their best rugby of the season in the first half hour and now need to reproduce it against struggling Beverley. They play the East Yorkshire club, who are two points below them, twice in the five remaining games, starting at home on Saturday.

Boro expect Chapman to be suspended, although his dismissal for an alleged punch was partly a reflection of the referee’s over-zealous approach.

He had already sinbinned a player from each side in a minor flare-up and later sent off a Chester prop, which looked equally harsh.

That proved crucial as it allowed Boro to regain the initiative as Chester lost all their momentum.

Boro’s early lead came from a Simon Moore penalty and a converted try by Richie Barker, resulting from good forward pressure.

Chapman’s red card came after 36 minutes, forcing Boro to send on Phil Harland at prop and take off flanker Matt Wright.

The game instantly changed as Chester scored two tries and added a conversion to lead 12-10 at half-time.

They quickly landed a penalty to stretch the lead, but just before their own prop’s dismissal the tide had started to turn again through a moment of inspiration from Boro centre Simon O’Farrell.

From halfway he chipped over the defence, re-gathered and raced away to score, Moore adding the conversion.

Hooker Richard sealed the win and the four-try bonus point by scoring after 66 and 78 minutes. The first came from a line-out drive and for the second he appeared on the end of a handling move and drove over from five metres.

Unbeaten in their last three games, Boro need to keep the run going against Beverley, who are not going down without a fight.

They picked up a bonus point in a 22-17 defeat away to Stockport, who are assured of the title despite the recent deduction of five points for incorrect completion of a result form.

Billingham just failed to earn a point in a 24-16 defeat at Rossendale and will need to win their one remaining home game against Waterloo to have any hope of survival.