Winnington Park 14 Manchester 27

WINNINGTON followed their worst first-half showing of the season with a dramatically-improved second, but it was not enough to alter the outcome.

Depleted by absences, and with some stand-ins performing unfamiliar roles, they were disjointed during the opening exchanges at Burrows Hill.

Manchester duly dominated, scoring five unanswered tries.

A repeat of their 41-7 success in the return in October seemed certain, but Park coach Roger Pickering summoned spirit from his young side during an interval rally.

Had Danny Williams’ charge to the line not been halted in the nick of time late on, they may even have made their guests tremble.

Such a scenario was impossible to imagine after the first quarter of an hour.

Manchester, beaten on their previous two visits, took the lead after creating an overlap on the right.

Their second score was entirely avoidable; when Winnington full back Josh Gibbins delayed a clearance, his eventual kick was charged down by an opponent who then enjoyed a clear run to pick up the diverted ball and touch down.

A third arrived shortly after winger Craig Lamb had been sent to the sin bin, this time when Manchester’s forward-power earned for them a push-over try that was converted from in front of the posts.

Park’s afternoon worsened when the scoreboard changed to 22-0 after a ball-carrier was met with no resistance when cutting a straight line to the whitewash.

Bonus-point banked, Manchester put together their best move of the match to notch a fifth try before the break.

They moved the ball swiftly from right to left, a flowing sequence that ended with the ball grounded in the corner.

Pickering summoned his players to the dressing room, and they emerged a more aggressive unit.

It paid dividend quickly, and Conor Lapniewski charged over at the end of their first period of pressure.

Scrum-half Jack Williams promptly added the extras.

Park, guilty of conceding countless penalties in the opening period, were forcing their guests to do the same.

They were tougher to break down too, and reduced the deficit further when Jack Williams darted over after captain Dave Cross supplied a pass following a quickly-taken tap.

The try-scorer’s conversion, with his left boot from the right touchline, was brilliant.

Stirred, they were on the front foot.

But damage done in the first 30 minutes proved too much to repair, and they suffered a third successive defeat.

The distance to a position of safety in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One remains eight points.

Next up, New Brighton away.

Park Burgess, Brown, Underdown, Dave Cross, Gately, Andy Evans, Danny Williams, Lapniewski, Jack Williams, Moran, Lamb, Lewis Pickering, Clawson, Gadd, Gibbins Replacements (all used) Jonny Evans, Cannings, Neary Tries Lapniewski, Jack Williams Cons Jack Williams (2)