Manchester 17 Northwich 14

DEFEAT at Manchester on Saturday made it three games without a win for Northwich.

Blacks started at an exhilarating pace, taking the initiative during the early exchanges.  

Strong running from Dorian Simes, Joel Barber and Jack Watts forced Manchester into a defensive lineout.  

After stealing the ball, the visitors moved the ball swiftly to the wing for Andy Chubb who ran in to score.

Chris Dutoy converted with only three minutes on the clock.

However when they tried to run the restart from their own 22, Northwich were caught in possession and penalised. 

Manchester took full advantage by kicking the resulting penalty.  

For the next half an hour Blacks continued to run the ball at every opportunity, but poor handling and ill-discipline kept a patient home side in the match.  

Manchester kicked the ball to the corners to keep the pressure on Blacks, earning a penalty in the moments before the break. 

From an attacking lineout close to their guests’ line, the home team drove over to take the lead.

The response from Northwich was immediate; they were given a penalty and, after securing the subsequent lineout, moved the ball into midfield.  

It was recycled and then switched to create an overlap for Sam Naylor, who passed to Richard Dale.

He touched down for a try, converted by Dutoy, to put the visitors ahead at half time.

Northwich conceded a number of penalties after the break, and were punished by Manchester who converted twice.

The final penalty was cruel, with Dale punished for stealing the ball from an opponent despite remaining on his feet.  

Barber then broke the line late on, sprinting 60 metres only to tackled in full flow. 

Blacks will be desperate to return to winning ways this Saturday, when they host Manchester Medics at Moss Farm.

Northwich Cartman, Thompson, Cairns, Cotterill, Gavin, Watts, Naylor, Smith, Houghton, Dutoy, Richard Dale, Barber, Chubb, Wilson, Simes Replacements Dodd, Gallimore, Baker Tries Chubb, Richard Dale Cons Dutoy (2)