Northwich fail to make advantage count against under-manned Sefton

DEPLETED Northwich followed one of their best performances of the season with arguably their worst.

Shorn of half a dozen regulars, including Grayson Thyne who suffered a broken leg during last Saturday’s cup stalemate at Blackburn, it is still a surprise they succumbed to Sefton.

More so considering Blacks played for the most part against 14 men following a serious injury to a home team player in the first half.

That figure was reduced to 12, if only briefly, when two of their number were sent to the sin bin.

Sefton had established a 21-7 advantage by the break, scoring first following a counter raid after Northwich had spilled the ball while on the attack.

The hosts then pinched possession from a lineout to set up a drive for the line that ended with another converted score.

Play was halted for almost an hour while the emergency services treated Sefton’s hurt man, though they were next to score following the restart after powering through a gap in the visitors’ defence.

Northwich replied before the interval, Liam Gavin leading a charge before the ball went through the hands of Jack Watts and Sam Naylor before prop Sione Tangi touched down.

Joel Barber added the extras.

Blacks could not build on that response, conceding a fourth try – this time unconverted, during the early stages of the second period.

They at least rallied before the finish to restore some respectability to the result.

Gavin crossed the whitewash after Northwich stole the ball at a lineout, converted by Barber.

A third try followed, again following a Sefton lineout, this time when scrum-half Michael Gallimore made a break before sending in Chris James to score.

They could not repeat the trick before full time, losing for the first time in six league and cup matches.

West Park, currently placed fifth in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One, visit Moss Farm next Saturday.

Northwich Cairns, Thompson, Tangi, Smith, Gavin, James, Harrison, Watts, Gallimore, Naylor, Simes, Purbrick, Barber, Oultram, Davies Replacements Cartman, Collins Tries Tangi, Gavin, James Cons Barber (2)

Additional reporting by Steve Wood