WHEN Matt Farr took over as Winnington Park’s head coach earlier this year, he promised they would be more pragmatic.

As an example, he ruled out attempting to beat Dukinfield by playing them at their own game.

If his side’s visit there last weekend was a first test of their progress, then they passed.

“We talked beforehand about focusing on our style of rugby,” he said.

“We’re not a big side, and needed to use our pace and ball-handling skills – and that’s what we did in the second-half when our discipline and composure was tested.”

Winnington have now won three successive matches in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two this term, and a superior points difference separates them with fellow 100 per-centers Heaton Moor and Liverpool Collegiate.

They started slowly, and fell behind when Max Hadlet dotted down.

Cameron Flanagan’s penalty got Park off the mark, and Danny Williams crossed the whitewash for a first try shortly afterwards.

A second three-pointer before the break from Flanagan put the visitors 11-5 ahead.

They added to their advantage early in the second-half when Lee Allmark sprinted to the line from 20 metres out.

The men from Burrows Hill assumed control as their hosts tired, although Dukinfield did notch a second score through Pedro Mendes.

Park regrouped though and back-row forward Alex Glendinning lined effectively with the visitors’ backs division, carrying the ball to the line with one fearless run.

Dukinfield kept alive their hopes when Jonathon Holden bagged a try, converted by Jonny Sculthorp, although they did not trouble the scorers again.

Winnington put the game beyond their opponents’ reach in the remainder, helped by Flanagan’s reliable boot converting two more penalty kicks.

Williams then provided the game’s outstanding moment when he charged through three attempted tackles before claiming his second try of the game.

Flanagan added the extras.

The game ended on a sour note when replacement prop Will Burgess was forced to leave the field after suffering a cut to his face in an off-the-ball incident, while fellow sub Matthew Treacy’s afternoon ended in the same way.

Farr added: “There were some nasty incidents out there, but we stayed concentrated on the task at hand.”

“The lads played how I wanted them too after initially dropping their standards in the first half-hour.”

Park | Underdown, Johnson, Taylor, Snowden, Hallworth, Treacy, Glendinning, Danny Williams, Jack Williams, Flanagan, Pugh, Brookes, Allmark, Critchley, Sheppard Replacements Burgess, Cann, Dykes, Ryan Williams, Morgan Tries Danny Williams (2), Allmark, Glendinning Cons Flanagan (2) Pens Flanagan (4)