Anselmians 17 Winnington Park 40

WINNINGTON won a league game at Anselmians for the first time since the turn of the century, boosting their hopes of a top three finish.

Saturday’s bonus-point success also ended a wait to win away from Burrows Hill that started at the end of November.

They took the lead early on, Danny Williams leading a race to reach Gareth Owen’s kick to apply the finishing touch to a move he had started.

Fraser Lindsay kicked a conversion from out wide.

Park’s front five dominated, securing possession from set pieces to give their back row a chance to play.

A second try arrived when Harry Stubbs, after picking up the ball from the base of a scrum, raided down the blind side before releasing a clever pass to scrum-half James Johnson.

He sent in Craig Lamb to touch down.

Anselimans opened their account with a penalty, but could not make their superior size count.

The hosts did add a second three-pointer, but they fell further behind when Park pushed them back with a scrum.

Gary Dykes reacted quickest to claim a loose ball, popping off an assist to Stubbs who ran in the visitors’ third try.

Dykes was again a provider at the start of the second half, this time feeding a pass to Luke Cannings after side-stepping the home team’s fly-half.

The young winger’s pace took him clear to score.
The teams traded penalties, but Winnington strengthened their grip on the game when substitute Alex Glendinning claimed their fifth try after Shaun Underdown’s drive for the line had been halted.
With Lindsay off the field after sustaining an injury, Johnson kicked two penalties during a fretful period of play.

When tempers did boil over, an Anselmians player was sent to the sin bin as punishment for a high tackle.

A scuffle followed the next altercation, with Stubbs and an opponent shown a red card for their part.

The home team gained field position from the resulting penalty, claiming their only try of the contest.

Johnson, standing in for injured Jack Williams, kicked a penalty late on to complete the scoring.

Park Burgess, Ridgway, Underdown, Dave Cross, Alston, Dykes, Danny Williams, Stubbs, Johnson, Lindsay, Lamb, Allmark, Owen, Cannings, Moran Replacements (all used) Brown, Glendinning, Pickering Tries Danny Williams, Lamb, Stubbs, Cannings, Glendinning Cons Lindsay (2), Johnson Pens Johnson (3)