Northwich 15 Winnington Park 9

FOR Northwich, the season’s first derby arrived at the right moment.

After four successive defeats their position in the table was a long way from where they finished last season, but Saturday was a stirring reminder that form is temporary.

Their campaign needed a catalyst, and Richard Dale provided one.

Blacks’ centre claimed all their points, including two superb tries, to spoil Park’s perfect record.

He even assumed kicking duty to relieve an out-of-sorts Chris Dutoy, converting one of his scores and slotting a crucial penalty.

Above all else the hosts put in a performance that, while not always fluid, was full of intensity.

Their neighbours struggled initially to respond.

However, Winnington were still in the contest up until the final whistle, applying most pressure on the motivated men in black in the closing stages.

Too often though Park’s final pass was inaccurate or a ball made greasy by sodden conditions slipped through an intended recipient’s fingers.

When they did conjure a clear opening, skipper Harry Stubbs’ surge towards the line was stopped inches short by Chris Heywood’s try-saving tackle.

Prevented by Northwich from playing the attacking rugby that had demolished Douglas seven days previously, Park remained clinical enough to pinch a slender interval lead.

The teams had traded penalties, Dutoy missing his attempt while Jack Williams hit the target from in front of the posts, before Dale touched down in the corner.

He applied the finishing flourish to a move started by Jack Watts’ burst, Northwich swiftly moving the recycled ball from left to right for their star man to cross the whitewash.

Dutoy could not add the extras.

He was unlucky when another three-point attempt cannoned back off an upright, then Joel Barber drifted a similar effort wide.

The home team were denied a second try when Fraser Lindsay’s brilliantly-timed intervention prevented Andy Chubb from converting Sam Naylor’s pass.

Park then rallied before the break, sneaking ahead when Williams slotted another penalty from close range.

But as they had done in the first half, Northwich struck early in the second.

Dale’s run dissected the visitors’ flimsy defence, rewarded with a try he converted.

A penalty quickly followed when Park were punished for blocking a player’s run as he chased his own kick through.

Williams’ next penalty was wide, while replacement James Johnson saw a three point attempt from distance clatter an upright.

Williams, who kicked consistently well throughout, was then successful in reducing Winnington’s arrears to 15-9 with five minutes left.

Stubbs’ chance aside, they ran out of time to  extend their winning sequence to six matches.