BUD Skinkis scored a hat-trick of tries as Northwich sent a message to their league rivals by beating Altrincham Kersal in the Cheshire RFU Vase.

The wing’s treble was a highlight of Blacks’ display against a foe they will meet again in North One West following their promotion as champions.

The visitors scored the only try of close-fought first half.

It arrived with seconds on the referee’s clock, but that was long enough for Matthew Poste to carry the ball on the blindside from the base of a scrum before sending Skinkis in to score.

A Kersal man was given time in the sin bin a punishment for conceding the penalty, and the men from Moss Farm made their numerical advantage count after the interval.

Richard Dale exploited the extra space to dot down shortly after the restart, making it 10-0.

Nick Baldwin then demonstrated fine individual skill to gather his own kick before crossing the line for Blacks’ third try.

He added the extras too.

Northwich continued to dominate even when their hosts were restored to a full complement, and Skinkis was given a simple task to touch down following Dale’s fine break.

Baldwin’s conversion extended their lead to 24 points.

Further tries followed when Skinkis gathered Baldwin’s cross-field kick to complete his hat-trick, then Robin Houghton won a foot-race to a ball nudged forward from his own boot.

His try, along with a long-range drop goal from Baldwin, left them 39-0 up and with a semi-final spot secured.

Director of rugby Martin Poste range the changes late on and his side, already depleted by the absence of Chris Dale, Sam Naylor, Joe Maddocks and James Reilly, lost cohesion.

Altrincham duly notched a pair of converted tries to reduce the deficit before full time.

Blacks head to Vale of Lune for their league opener next weekend in confident mood.

Northwich | Hulbert, Vaughan, Phillips, Smith, Dudley, English, James, Heywood, Poste, Baldwin, Underhill, Richard Dale, Houghton, Skinkis, Barber Replacements Bailie, Collins Tries Skinkis (3), Richard Dale, Baldwin, Houghton Cons Baldwin (3) Drop Baldwin

Additional reporting by Steve Wood