IN the end it was a familiar feeling for Winnington Park.

Well, for the first team anyway following a fourth successive defeat against their neighbours.

A 32-7 reverse was as emphatic as the result reflects, Northwich proving stronger – slicker too – in pretty much every way.

Blacks executed a game-plan flawlessly, surprising many by matching their hosts’ power in the front row.

Their intensity proved too much for Park, though most impressive was the controlled manner of the Moss Farm men’s aggression.

When they attacked, it was precise and with expert handling.

The reality though is that nobody, irrespective of whether blue or black is their favourite side’s colours, left Burrows Hill a loser on Saturday.

That is not an attempt to placate Park’s disappointed players, by the way.

But rather a reminder that it is sometimes necessary to keep perspective.

Hundreds of supporters were strung out along the touchline almost two hours before kick off.

They were not there, at least initially, fuelled by anticipation of the main event either.

Instead, they wanted a glimpse of a different game.

Terry Jones, first team manager at Winnington Park, told me last week that the idea for a veterans’ derby had captured the imagination of former teammates and foes.

They mingled for a pre-match picture, then battled – no fixture between these two clubs is truly a friendly – each other on the pitch.

Northwich won that contest too, though there was never a sense anybody was keeping score.

Nor did the players, this time at least, seem to care too much who won.

And their families, be they children or parents, beamed with pride from the touchline anyway.

This was the sport of rugby, represented by clubs whose homes are within sight of each other, showing how rivalry can – or should – be done.

“It’s probably the only time I’ll say this but the result didn’t bother me,” said Park chairman Brian Concannon afterwards.

He, along with a small band of fellow volunteers, spent Saturday morning making sure new posts – the old ones were blown over in a storm before Christmas – were up in time for the match.

Others forked a sodden adjacent pitch so the vets could play.

The crowd that came later is the biggest to have watched a sporting fixture in Northwich this season.

It is probably the only one whose every member went home happy.

Winnington Park might have lost a rugby match, two even, at the weekend but it won so many more friends.