West Park 23 Winnington Park 26

WINNINGTON Park bounced back from three successive losses to enjoy a narrow win over St Helens outfit West Park on Saturday.

It looked as if the visitors would face a stern test to bring to an end their mid-season dip, facing a West Park side they had beaten only once in the last six encounters.

Jack Williams stepped up to calmly knock a penalty over inside the first five minutes, but it was the hosts who put the first try on the board and quickly added a penalty of their own to their score.

Strong running from Shaun Underdown, Will Burgess and skipper Harry Stubbs earned a penalty that was dispatched by Williams., but West Park again responded with an unconverted try.

Craig Lam’s turnover and some quick ball allowed Luke Cannings to run a good line from his wing and break through two would-be tacklers for Winnington’s first try, converted by Williams.

Then, after a quick penalty from Williams, his brother Danny offloaded to Stubbs for the captain to crash over between the sticks for a seven-point lead at the break.

Williams opened the second half account from the boot with a penalty struck from almost halfway.

But West Park were sure to come back fighting, resulting in a player from each side being sin-binned, and Williams eventually increased the lead to eight points with another successful penalty.

From there it was a nervy ending for the visitors, with the home side scoring a try wide out via their winger to reduce the arrears to three points in the dying minutes.

A frantic finish ensued as Winnington kicked the ball into touch thinking the game was over, only to discover a further 30 seconds left on the clock.

West Park won the lineout and began to drive forward, but the visitors safely turned the ball over.

However, with a penalty to win the game, Ben Ridgeway's quick tap worried his teammates before the hosts were called up for not retreating 10 metres and sibling Jack was able to kick dead.

Saturday sees the visit of new South Lancs/Cheshire Division One league leaders Liverpool St Helens to Winnington Park.

Winnington: Burgess, Ridgeway, Underdown, Skelly, Cross, Dykes, D Williams, Stubbs, J Williams, Lindsay, Lamb, Allmark, Pickering, Cannings, Heptinstall. Replacements: Lepwinski, Alston, Johnson.

Results

South Lancs/Cheshire Division One, November 29: Liverpool St Helens 20 Altrincham Kersal 13; Manchester 51; Anselmians 12 Manchester Medics 10 Bowdon 55; Northwich 36 Douglas (IoM) 11; Ruskin Park 23 Glossop 20; Sefton 34 Hoylake 8; West Park (St Helens) 23 Winnington Park 26.

Fixtures

Saturday, December 6, inc: Bowdon v Northwich; Winnington Park v Liverpool St Helens.