Northwich 42 Ruskin Park 5

NORTHWICH were not at their best, at least initially, nor did they need to be.

A fifth successive win, after running in seven tries, is perfect preparation for a winner-takes-all battle at Blackburn in the RFU Intermediate Cup’s group stage this Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.

Blacks were not bloated by last week’s derby success either.

James Underhill kicked a penalty to put them ahead inside two minutes, though early attempts to score a try floundered when a final pass was too often forced.

A breakthrough arrived when scrum-half Michael Gallimore made a break and, following a series of rucks close to the visitors’ line, John Brotherton touched down.

Northwich played with the intensity that had proved too much for neighbours Winnington Park seven days earlier, adding to their advantage when Gallimore released winger Sam Jones.

He stepped inside Ruskin’s remaining defender to score.

Blacks countered again from a turnover ball – Sam Naylor and Robin Houghton supporting Gallimore’s initial burst to set up Jones for his second try.

The visitors notched their only score of the contest shortly after the interval when, with Northwich’s Sione Tangi in the sin bin, they picked up the ball from a scrum before driving over.

 Their opponents’ reply was swift; Naylor’s clever dummy making space for him to score, converted by Underhill.

Blacks’ player-coach crossed the whitewash again, this time after Jack Watts had picked up the ball from a scrum and fed Gallimore.

Underhill’s extras put the contest out or Ruskin’s reach.

Northwich increased their points tally when a lineout ball was moved on to Houghton and then Grayson Thyne, who sent in Watts to score.

They saved their most stylish try until last though, a slick movement started by Watts and continued by Naylor.

He passed to Chris James, who put in Houghton. 

Northwich Cairns, Brotherton, Tangi, Smith, Gavin, James, Thyne, Watts, Gallimore, Underhill, Simes, Naylor, Houghton, Jones, Kania Replacements Hulbert, Thompson Tries Jones (2), Naylor (2), Brotherton, Watts, Houghton Cons Underhill (2) Pen Underhill

Additional reporting by Steve Wood