Winnington Park 25 Wigan 14

WINNINGTON Park played host at Burrows Hill for the last time this season, signing off with their fourth win from the past five matches there.

With their remaining games against the table’s bottom two teams, Harry Stubbs’ men can be hopeful still of at least matching last term’s eighth-place finish.

Early pressure on Saturday paid dividend when a tap penalty quickly-taken by scrum half Mike Jones led to Stubbs charging over the line close to the sticks.

Wigan were reduced temporarily to 14 men following a deliberate knock-on, for which they were punished further when Danny Williams peeled from the resulting maul to touch down.

Park dominated the half’s remainder, though sloppy passing and solid defending by the visitors meant they did not score again.

The pattern did not deviate in the second period, at least initially, with Lee Allmark orchestrating the hosts’ best movements with runs from a deep position.

At the end of one, replacement Tom Bannister was stopped short of the line. The ball was recycled, Jones and then Williams moving it on for Joe Robins to crash over.

Wigan attacked next, reducing the deficit when scrum half Andy Whittle converted his own try.

At the other end, Sam Brookes’ penalty made it 18-7 to the hosts.

Winnington sent on club captain Will Burgess, returning after a lengthy injury lay-off, for the closing stages.

He bolstered their scrum, and Park assumed control.

Burgess was involved in the build-up to their fourth try, ensuring a bonus point, when Chris Heptinstall and then Gary Dykes put Tim Charlton on an overlap.

When he was held up close to the whitewash, Jones made his the recycled ball and accelerated over.

Brookes’ extras made it 25-7, though Luke Farrow’s try for Wigan – converted by Whittle – made the margin of victory narrower.

Park Wharton, Robins, Underdown, Heale, Gateley, Dykes, Danny Williams, Stubbs, Jones, Heptinstall, Lamb, Brookes, Owen, Charlton, Allmark. Replacements Burgess, Ridgeway, Bannister. Tries Stubbs, Danny Williams, Robins, Jones. Con Brookes. Pen Brookes.