THE timing of Winnington’s first away victory since the turn of the year is perfect.
A date with league rivals Hoylake in the Cheshire RFU Bowl final, on neutral turf at Crewe & Nantwich, follows on Monday, kick off 1pm.
Success in that competition is not new to Park, who won back-to-back editions in 2010 and again the season after.
They head their depleted, but buoyed.
After conceding an early try last Saturday when Dukinfield made effective use of a driving maul, they responded in the right way.
Jamie Pugh crossed the whitewash in the corner, and a second score arrived when Lewis Pickering dotted down close to the posts on 34 minutes.
Cameron Flanagan converted.
The hosts restored parity with a try of their own, after which Josh Brown was sent to the sin bin as punishment for a high tackle in the build-up.
Park sent on Nick Brown, Conor Lapniewski and Josh Gibbins for the second period, which started promisingly when Flanagan kicked a penalty to make it 15-12.
Roger Pickering’s men appeared to be in control, but they succumbed again to Dukinfield’s power when, after refusing to kick for goal during a spell of repeated penalty infringements, the home team’s pressure was rewarded with a converted try.
Winnington stood firm, and took the lead again when Lapniewski crashed over from short range and fellow substitute James Johnson added the extras.
A bonus point was theirs when hooker Andrew Evans touched down his first try in four years after Jack Williams’ darting run.
They swap places with Dukinfield in the table as a result, but the bigger change is in their mood ahead of a cup final which they will start as underdogs.
Park | Ridgway, Evans, Snasdell, Crosby, Dykes, Glendinning, Danny Williams, Brown, Jack Williams, Flanagan, Lamb, Brookes, Lewis Pickering, Pugh, Allmark Replacements Nick Brown, Lapniewski, Johnson, Gibbins, Anderson Tries Pugh, Lewis Pickering, Lapniewski, Evans Cons Flanagan, Johnson Pen Flanagan
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