Winnington Park 15 Bowdon 7

SLOWLY but surely, Winnington Park are starting to wake up.

The reward for probably their best performance of the season so far is a second win in the past three matches – proof of their on-pitch improvement.

They were more than eight points better than Bowdon.

“Once we were in front, we never looked in danger of losing,” said head coach Roger Pickering afterwards.

“We dominated, and were in control.”

The signs were promising for the men from Burrows Hill when the avoided a slow start that has cost them regularly in previous weeks.

Led by skipper Harry Stubbs, they were always on top up front with Dave Cross and Shaun Underdown prominent during a series of huge carries when Park had possession.

Frustratingly, they could not convert their pressure into points.

Bowdon were more clinical when a chance came their way, a quickly-taken tap penalty leading to the game’s opening score when their flanker burst through a gap in the home team’s defence.

A conversion made it 7-0 against the run of play.

Winnington replied before the break, when fly-half Jack Williams nudged forward a grubber kick that brother Danny Williams chased.

Fraser Lindsay converted his touchdown to restore parity.

Buoyed, they were on the front foot after the interval.

Lewis Pickering’s break prompted Bowdon to concede a penalty, slotted by Lindsay to put his side ahead for the first time.

Park’s best spell followed despite the fast-deteriorating conditions, during which they notched perhaps their best try of the campaign to seal victory.

Jarrod Pickering’s kick and chase put his side in a promising position, and the forwards recycled the ball through a number of phases before Stubbs resisted attempted tackles from two defenders to cross in the corner.

They were denied a third try following Chris Heptinstall’s raid down the left, from where he was judged to have stepped out of play before flicking a pass Mark Gately’s way.

Pickering added: “It was a good display all-round; we were determined and resolute in defence, and our structure was good when we had the ball.”

They hope to make further progress at Anselmians next weekend.

Park Ridgway, Brown, Underdown, Dave Cross, Gately, Evans, Danny Williams, Stubbs, Heptinstall, Jack Williams, Sheppard, Lewis Pickering, Lindsay, Jarrod Pickering, Allmark Replacements Lapniewski, Matthew Cross, Lamb Tries Danny Williams, Stubbs Con Lindsay Pen Lindsay