West Park 17 Northwich 10

NORTHWICH, not at full strength, were denied by resolute defending from turning their pressure into points by in-form West Park.

Blacks, boosted by new recruit Chris Bradshaw, dominated territory during the game’s opening half hour.

They thought they had scored inside five minutes when winger Andy Oultram touched down, but the referee judged Richard Dale’s pass to have been forward.

The men from Moss Farm laid siege to the hosts’ line from then on, although they were restricted to a single penalty attempt that James Underhill was unable to convert.

Instead Matt Savage kicked the contest’s first points at the other end from a penalty.

They established a 10-0 interval lead following an attacking lineout, their forwards driving back Northwich defenders until Matt Potter peeled away – resisting an attempted tackle to score.

Savage’s extras followed.

The pattern was similar at the start of the second period, when Blacks’ pressure continued to be resisted.

They were rewarded on 57 minutes after Chris James picked up the ball from the base of a Northwich scrum.

He fed Matthew Poste, who delivered a scoring pass for Robin Houghton.

 West Park sent on substitutes Brad Murray and Lewis Harris to refresh their pack, and the former crashed over following a series of drives close to the visitors’ line.

Savage’s conversion made it 17-5.

Northwich continued to attack, and were rewarded with five minutes left.

They opted for a lineout after being awarded a penalty, and Bradshaw capped an encouraging debut when he barged over.

West Park protected their lead during the remaining minutes, leaving Blacks to console themselves with a bonus point.

They entertain Liverpool Collegiate, conquerors of Winnington Park on Saturday, this weekend. 

Northwich Maddocks, Thompson, Grabski, Bradshaw, Harrison, James, Heywood, Gavin, Poste, Underhill, Naylor, Richard Dale, Houghton, Outram, Barber Replacements Farley, Vaughan Tries Houghton, Bradshaw

Additional reporting by Steve Wood