NORTHWICH are continuing to go about their business efficiently and with the minimum of fuss.

They have regained composure after taking a tumble at Manchester, and a bonus-point win at Altrincham Kersal on Saturday keeps them in touch with the leading teams in North One West.

A home date with Firwood Waterloo awaits next weekend.

As is becoming custom, they had to adjust to testing conditions before recording a fourth victory from their past five games.

They played with the wind in their faces in the first half, and scored first on 25 minutes when Bud Skinkis caught Nick Baldwin’s cross-field kick before breaking the last line of defence.

A second followed when an Altrincham player fumbled, and Chris Heywood hacked the loose ball towards the try-line.

He won a foot-race to reach it, dotting down a try that Baldwin converted.

Northwich could not relax though, and a neat overhead kick landed close to their posts.

It proved too awkward to deal with, and the home team notched a try that they improved with extras.

However Martin Poste’s men had the final say, and Skinkis claimed his second score of the contest after full-back Joel Barber had made a decisive break.

Baldwin’s extras made it 19-7 at the break.

The visitors applied sustained pressure to the Altrincham defence early in the second-half, although without reward.

Instead their advantage was reduced when their opponents secured possession at a lineout before forcing their way over.

It galvanised Blacks, and a scrum in midfield led to Naylor, Matthew Poste and Baldwin moving the ball slickly to substitute Robin Houghton.

His neat interchange with Kyle Lindsay allowed the hooker to touch down a try that secured for his side a bonus-point.

Altrincham could not respond, and Baldwin landed a penalty with a quarter of an hour left to put his side out of reach.

Northwich | Hulbert, Lindsay, Lapniewski, Farley, Dudley, Heywood, Sam Naylor, Balshaw, Poste, Baldwin, Skinkis, Richard Dale, Underhill, Stirk, Barber Replacements Wilkinson, Fortune, Houghton Tries Skinkis (2), Heywood, Lindsay Cons Baldwin (2) Pen Baldwin

Match report by Steve Wood