South Lancashire & Cheshire Division One
Winnington Park 11
Hoylake 22

LEE Allmark was Park’s only points scorer on an afternoon when handling errors in difficult conditions determined the game’s outcome.

The hosts youthful team was punished for their profligacy, the visitors completing a double over the guests after winning the teams’ first meeting in October.

Mark Warr’s men were slow to start, but protected their line for more than half an hour before a slick passing move presented a Hoylake winger with a chance to touch down.

With a conversion, the visitors edged ahead.

Allmark kicked two penalties before the break, the Wirral outfit replying with one of their own.

Winnington improved after half time, replacement scrum half Jack Williams breaking forward regularly to gain on-field position for the home team.

Allmark, playing at centre, made it into gaps more than once only for a final pass to wide men Elliot Reeks and Craig Lamb to go astray.

When Winnington’s forwards did cross the line, they were denied a try because the referee could not see whether the ball had been grounded.

A heavy snowstorm prompted a series of mistakes from both teams, Hoylake making the most of one error when charging down a kick and winning a foot race to the loose ball.

At 16-5 adrift, Park reduced their arrears when Allmark touched down although he could not convert.

Instead, the final score was a converted try for Hoylake.

With six matches left, starting this weekend at strugglers Orrell, Winnington’s chances of finishing in the table’s top half are receding.

Wigan, currently seventh, are seven points better off with a game in hand. However they visit Northwich in April.

Park Underdown, Sanson, Sant, Alston (Ellison), Dave Cross, Armstrong, Dan Williams, Stubbs, Broderick, Lowe, Reeks, Allmark, Bond (Jack Williams), Lamb, Mike Jones. Replacement not used Wharton. Try Allmark. Pens Allmark (2).