Why another victory at fortress Moss Farm could be decisive

NORTHWICH Rugby Club’s first team can take a significant step towards securing a promotion play-off place if they beat rivals Liverpool St Helens on Saturday.

Blacks will start the contest at Moss Farm one point better off than their guests in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One, but the St Helens outfit has a game in hand.

Martin Poste’s men extended a winning sequence in the league to nine matches following last weekend’s 33-19 success at Liverpool Collegiate.

They can take heart too from their recent record against LSH on home turf, winning four of the past five meetings, although the visitors on Saturday ran out 20-3 victors in last season’s meeting.

“If we beat LSH, only to then finish outside the top two – that would be a failure,” said Sam Naylor.

 

Winnington Park start a bid to beat the drop

WHILE their neighbours play a crunch match at the top of the table, the men from Burrows Hill have an important home game for different reasons.

Weather prevented Roger Pickering’s men from playing last weekend, so they launch a survival bid on Saturday when Manchester arrive in town.

They kick off the contest eight points adrift of a position of safety with 12 games left.

Three of their four wins to date this term have been as hosts, so fixtures in front of their own supporters will be crucial if they are to avoid relegation.

They can take heart from the fact they have beaten Manchester on each of their past two visits to Northwich.

However Park lost 41-7 when the teams met in October.

 

Northwich Guardian:

Shaun Underdown will be looking to lead Winnington Park to a much-needed victory against Manchester on Saturday. Picture: JOHN PICKERING

 

Witton’s on-pitch improvement faces toughest test yet

WITTON’S win against Radcliffe last Saturday was their fifth in the past seven league games.

A Glossop side, with former Albion front man Jamie Rainford at the point of their attack, arrive in Northwich on Saturday to test the progress of Carl Macauley’s side.

The Hillmen, third in the table, appear to have put behind them a blip that saw them go six matches without a victory after winning their past two.

However Chris Willcock’s men have been inactive the past three weeks because of postponements.

Witton are unbeaten at home in Division One North since mid-November, though their attack will be blunted by the absence of Alex Titchiner (injured) and Callum Hassan (suspended).

Jamie Matthews should switch from a wide position to partner in-form Rob Hopley, who has seven goals in as many starts since signing from Colwyn Bay.

Northwich Guardian:

Jamie Matthews, pictured against Radclifffe last Saturday, could partner Rob Hopley in Witton Albion's attack this weekend

 

Can hockey players extend winning streak?

WINNINGTON Park, following a 4-1 success last weekend, are enjoying their best run of results in almost six years.

“It was a fine team display,” said captain Pete Evans.

His side targets a fourth straight win in North League Division Two West on Saturday, a feat they have not managed since March 2010.

The Northwich outfit has risen to eighth in the table after collecting maximum points from three successive games, leaving them three clear of the bottom two.

Their opponents this weekend are Windermere, who have lost only once in six home matches home this term, push back 1pm.

 

Swimmers set to test themselves against best of rest in Cheshire

THE first big event of the year, the Cheshire Championships, starts at Macclesfield this weekend.

NorthwichCenturions have entered 11 members, while neighbours Winsford plan to send 59 – their biggest entry to date.

Competition is spread over six days, with starting at races on Saturday and Sunday starting after an 8am warm-up.

“We’ll be looking for some outstanding swims over the three weekends,” said Dan Goodwin, head coach at Winsford.

“All our qualifiers have had time to optimise their training and have prepared thoroughly for a successful meet.”

Last year’s edition was Winsford’s best to date, yielding 100 medals to rank them inside the top three clubs overall.

Theirs was also the biggest improvement of any their rivals on their performance in 2014.

Northwich Guardian:

Winsford Swim Team hope to be celebrating again during this weekend's Cheshire County Championships at Macclesfield.