Northwich 30 Sefton 0
NORTHWICH have been relentless after plotting a course to a promotion play-off place since the turn of the year, this victory their 11th in succession.

Sefton were not swatted aside, but Blacks were superior enough stop an opponent scoring a try at Moss Farm for the fifth time this season.

With two matches left, they need five points to secure second spot in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One behind New Brighton.

They led inside 10 minutes on Saturday, stealing the ball at a lineout to start a move ended when James Underhill’s neat pass sent Steve Campbell through a gap in the visitors’ defence.

Richard Dale kicked the conversion.

Spirited in defence, Sefton refused to roll over.

And Northwich added only to their tally when Dale slotted a penalty awarded to punish a failure to release the ball in a tackle.

Dale, in reliable form with the boot, added another three-pointer during the second period’s early exchanges to make it 13-0.

Moss Farm has become a fortress again, with Sam Naylor’s men victors in 10 consecutive matches since losing to Glossop in their opening home game of the season in September.

Blacks’ next move was their best of the contest, with Naylor, Ryan McKibbin, Dean Kingi and Gareth Davies – on as a replacement – playing a part before Underhill touched down.

A solid scrum was the foundation for another try when Naylor supplied the ball to Chris Dale, who was clever to release his younger brother to score.

This time Underhill added the extras for the hosts.

Davies was denied a try of his own by a brilliant last-ditch tackle, though Northwich did pick up a bonus point in the closing stages.

Again gathering possession from a Sefton lineout, the ball changed hands a number of times before Dale doubled his personal try tally for the afternoon.

Northwich Cartman, James, Kingi, Heywood, Farley, Naylor, Chris Dale, McKibbin, Gallimore, Underhill, Campbell, Richard Dale, Chubb, Houghton, Simes Replacements Thompson, Davies, Cairns Tries Richard Dale (2), Campbell, Underhill Cons Richard Dale, Underhill Pens Richard Dale (2)