Hoylake 8
Winnington Park 15

IT may not have been the most stylish win, but Winnington Park will undoubtedly just be glad to end their run of three successive defeats in Liverpool on Saturday.

Extra satisfaction will be taken from the fact that Hoylake is not an easy place to pick up points, with only three of Park’s travelling side on Saturday having any previous success at Carham Road in recent years.

Just as captain Harry Stubbs asked of them, Park exploded out of the gates and into an uncharacteristic early lead thanks to Jack Williams’ penalty.

That lead lasted until the 20th minute, when a charging run from the big Hoylake second row carried him over despite Park’s best efforts to halt him on the line.

Williams was still running the show with the boot, however, and he collected his own chip over to cross in the corner for an excellent solo try.

But with a second lead secure, another sloppy restart cost Park position and they spent a difficult spell under pressure from the hosts doggedly defending their line.

Winnington’s superb defensive effort meant Hoylake were unable to cross the whitewash, though they did take a simple three-pointer to level the scores at 8-8 before the half-time whistle.

The second half continued in much the same fashion, leading to a tight, entertaining game as Park looked to move the ball wide and play a fast pace, while Hoylake attempted to use their sizeable fringe runners before letting their speedy full back and wingers loose.

A failed line-out inside the hosts’ 10-metre line hinted that another upset may well be on the cards for Winnington, but unlike previous weeks Stubbs’ men were able to work the match’s winning chance in the final quarter of an hour.

Quick recycled ball from the forwards sent Williams scampering free with a support runner on the inside, though instead he chose to find the gap on his own and give himself a simple conversion and his side a lead they were able to defend for the final 10 minutes.

Park Burgess, Cross, Underdown, Taylor, Billington, Dykes, Williams, Stubbs (Capt), Duncan, Williams, Owen, Allmark, Knowles, Bond, Jones. Subs Cross, Ellison, Warr. Tries Williams Con Williams Pen Williams