KNUTSFORD blew a chance of victory against Village Spartans.

They ended up losing 19-17 at home, with Spartans enjoying their first win of term.

Blues were presented an opportunity to take the spoils when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts.

But the penalty was timed out due to the length of time it took to get a kicking tee on the field.

It summed up Knutsford's afternoon as simply not enough fitness and desire was on show to ensure the points were taken.

Knutsford had no excuses going into Saturday's match.

Issues in the pack in the previous narrow victory versus a struggling Whitchurch side had been focused on in the midweek training.

And Knutsford had a strong team named to face the Spartans.

The hosts did start strongly.

Good initial carries from Pete Twist and Alex Hornby saw the Blues get close to the line but handling errors cost the team, with one particular knock on allowing Spartans to escape.

It was a strange match.

Knutsford looked tired up front early on and were struggling to get to the breakdowns against an aggressive and well drilled Spartans pack.

Knutsford were also guilty of too many hands in the breakdown and just in general the support play was slow to get there so the Blues were getting turned over again and again.

Good combination play off the scrums meant Kyle Blake and Adam Ellary were able to make yards and ball-in-hand through the backs definitely carved some nice lines as ground was made but again was easily turned over once the ball had moved too far away from the pack.

Knutsford went two tries down early on through some defensive errors and some backchat penalties.

Spartans were even awarded a penalty try for what was deemed a high tackle from Knutsford's last man.

Knutsford needed to put their house in order.

They rallied in the second half and started to fight back.

Some well-worked phase play from Edmonds and Blake put Cook over the whitewash between the centres.

Blake capped off a solid attacking performance by finishing off a Knutsford maul with his second score in as many games.

Then Cook found Dan Jones on the wing with a wide pass and he finished well in the corner after Jim Southall and Howard Dunkerley had both made good ground and deft offloads.

It was then that the mishap with the penalty opportunity in front of the sticks cost Blues dearly.

Blues now have plenty to think about going into a break before they visit St Edwards OB on Saturday, November 9