Liverpool Collegiate 19 Northwich 33

NORTHWICH’S next game is probably the biggest of the season, so they will be happy to have passed such a stern test as a warm-up.

Promotion rivals Liverpool St Helens visit Moss Farm this weekend, when they will kick off a single point adrift of their hosts in the table.

Blacks made sure of that only when Chris James finished a move he had started during the closing stages of a hard-fought contest on Saturday.

A ninth successive win was not secure until that moment.

Collegiate, conquerors of Winnington Park seven days earlier, edged ahead with a penalty inside 60 seconds.

James Underhill matched that feat at the other end after the hosts were penalised for preventing the ball’s release.

It proved to be a catalyst, for Northwich soon scored the opening try.

After opting for a lineout when a penalty award went their way, captain Chris Dale touched down at the end of a drive to the line.

Underhill kicked a second three-pointer to make it 11-3, only for Liverpool to reply with two successful penalties in as many minutes to close that gap.

Martin Poste’s men breathed easier at the interval after adding a penalty try to their tally, this time after a scrum broke up close to the home team’s line.

Underhill’s conversion established an 18-9 lead.

Northwich had to defend stoutly early in the second period when their opponents sought a way back.

It proved similarly difficult to break through for Blacks until the 55th minute.

Dale charge forward after his side secured ball at a lineout and, after scrum-half Matthew Poste had gathered, his superb pass inside invited Sam Naylor to score a fine try.

A further exchange of penalties followed, with Underhill remaining reliable for Northwich.

Collegiate refused to relent, and a quick tap started a passage of play that ended with an impressive team score.

The extras made it 28-19, keeping them in the game.

Blacks settled the outcome with 10 minutes left, when James’ forward burst led to Naylor’s break.

He carried the ball close to the line, where it was recycled for James to touch down.

It means Northwich, if only temporarily, draw level with West Park at the table’s summit.

However the St Helens outfit have two games in hand.

Northwich Grabski, James, Maddocks, Farley, Bradshaw, Naylor, Heywood, Chris Dale, Poste, Underhill, Reilly, Baldwin, Outram, Houghton, Barber Replacements Cartman, Vaughan, Thompson Tries Chris Dale, Naylor, James Cons Underhill (2) Pen Underhill (3)

Additional reporting by Steve Wood