Manchester 12 Winnington Park 29

VICTORY was in the bag by half time at Manchester on Saturday.

Crossing four times in the first period and defending stoutly after the interval ensured back-to-back league wins in South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One for a Winnington Park side that have also progressed to the last eight of the Cheshire RFU Vase.

Tries from Danny Williams, James Moran, Joe Robins and Jack Williams, who converted three times, put Winnington 26-7 clear in the opening 40 minutes.

Good phase play led to Danny Williams beating two defenders with a trademark side-step before going over from close range early on.

Jack Williams added the extra two points and then benefited from improvisation, kicking again his own grubber and beating the chasers to touch down.

Manchester replied when a move across the three-quarters ended with Joe Houghton crossing in the corner, Doug Day adding the extras.

A third try for Winnington arrived when slick passing provided Tom Witter with space to attack down the right.

After stepping inside the scattered Manchester defence, good support play led to Moran touching down with Jack Williams’ conversion stretching the lead to 19-7.

Replacement Robins cleverly read play to intercept a pass and touch down from within the Manchester 22.

The home side commanded territory for the majority of the second period, but faced with Park’s resolute defence only added a single try from a kick return.

It was a fine solo effort from Day, who navigated a way past defenders’ tackles to reduce the deficit.

A Jack Williams penalty completed the scoring in a half that saw both sides reduced to 14 men for a spell, Winnington’s Gary Dykes being disciplined for a tip tackle while Manchester’s offender had kicked out.

Park Burgess, Sanson, Underdown, Heale (Skelley), Stubbs, Glendinning, Danny Williams, Lepniewski, Cross, Jack Williams, Lamb (Dykes), Allmark, Pickering (Robins), Witter, Moran Tries Danny Williams, Jack Williams, Moran, Robins Cons Jack Williams (3) Pen Jack Williams