Winnington Park 24 Hoylake 5

WINNINGTON recorded back-to-back wins in the league on their own pitch for the first time this season, though they missed out on a bonus point.

However the return of prop club captain Will Burgess, following a lengthy spell out injured, is as good as one.

He appeared as a second half substitute, using his experience to help the youthful hosts over the line after Hoylake had refused to relent.

Park spent most of the opening period in their guests’ half, eventually breaking through the visitors’ defence when stand-off Sam Brookes latched onto Mike Jones’ pass before touching down between the posts.

He converted his own try.

Mark Warr’s men struggled to add to their tally, and the away team scored next following a series of phases during which well-drilled forwards play was a feature.

A conversion didn’t follow, leaving Winnington to protect a slender lead.

They were forced to defend for long periods after the interval, with skipper Harry Stubbs and back row partners Gary Dykes and Danny Williams snubbing out the threat posed by Hoylake’s heavy pack.

The home team notched a second score of the afternoon against the run of play, this time when Joe Robbins pounced on a loose ball and surged forward.

He fed replacement Lee Allmark, who off-loaded to Stubbs who won a foot race to the line.

Brookes’ extras put Park out of reach.

Tries for Stubbs, again, and Danny Williams were later chalked off to frustrate the bid for a maximum points haul.

Park Underdown, Wharton, McHugh (Burgess), Gately (Billington), Heale, Dykes, Danny Williams, Stubbs, Michael Jones, Jack Williams, Gareth Williams (Allmark), Brookes, Robbins, Lamb, Owen. Tries Brookes, Stubbs. Cons Brookes (2).