Winnington Park 27 Ruskin Park 7

PARK delivered their best performance since the turn of the year at the weekend when they put behind them a sequence of three successive defeats.

They scored four tries to earn a bonus point but the victory was built on solid defence, particularly in the first half.

“The guys up front were superb,” said skipper Harry Stubbs.

“They were an unbreakable force against physical opponents who used their size well.”

Winnington took the lead thanks to slick handling from Fraser Lindsay and then Lee Allmark, who tempted out a defender before inviting Luke Cannings to speed over in the corner.

The visitors used a favourable wind to pin back Ruskin in their own half, though the hosts’ superior weight allowed them to avert any danger.

They could not prevent Dave Cross from crashing over for the first of his two tries though after Park’s forwards had created an opportunity following a lineout.

A third try arrived when Lindsay’s deft chip over the hosts’ defence was collected by Cannings, who evaded attempts to halt him before touching down between the posts.

The visitors’ standards slipped at the start of the second half and, following a quickly-taken penalty, Ruskin’s scrum-half darted through a gap to score.

A successful conversion made it 17-7.

Park added a three-pointer following a high tackle that forced Lindsay to leave the field injured.

They reshuffled, sending prop Shaun Underdown to scrum-half, but remained in control.

A swift switch down the blind side from Stubbs and Underdown found wide man Craig Lamb, but he could not gather the pass.

Park kept the ball in the same area of the pitch, retaining it until Cross dived over a ruck to touch down.

Ruskin rallied, but they were repelled by determined guests for the remainder.

Stubbs said: “There were signs we’re moving again in the direction we need to be.

“Our set piece was stronger, while the backs were more clinical than they have been in the past few weeks.

“Hopefully we can push on from here and finish the season strongly.”

They visit Anselmians this weekend, kick off 2.15pm.

A surprise defeat for Northwich at Sefton leaves Park only seven points adrift of third place with six matches left.

Park Burgess, Ridgway, Underdown, Alston, Dave Cross, Dykes, Danny Williams, Lepniewski, Jack Williams, Lindsay, Lamb, Stubbs, Allmark, Cannings, Moran Replacements Evans, Jones, Robins Tries Cannings (2), Dave Cross (2) Cons Lindsay (2) Pen Allmark