Winnington Park lose ground on leaders after starting New Year with defeat against Glossop

WINNINGTON lost for a third successive visit to Glossop, leaving them nine points adrift of second spot in the standings.

A reshuffled line-up struggled to adapt to difficult conditions, though they did take the lead when Fraser Lindsay kicked a penalty following a period of pressure in the hosts’ 22.

Glossop replied through Rob Sonczak, who collected a pass from fly-half Kit Brammer after he had been hauled down two metres short of Park’s line.

Tom Dearnaley added the extras before increasing his side’s lead to 10-3 shortly afterwards when he converted a penalty.

A second try followed for Glossop when Brammer made his a clearing kick sent high, rather than far, by a Park player.

He jinked over the whitewash, leaving Dearnaley simple conversion.

Winnington replied after turning over a scrum, their pack launching a series of effective carries before a pass found Lewis Pickering who touched down.

Lindsay’s kick reduced the visitors’ arrears to 17-10 at the interval.

The men from Burrows Hill, victors in three consecutive league games before Christmas, started the second period strongly.

But they had only another three-pointer from Lindsay, after Glossop had been punished for not releasing the ball, for their effort.

Nor could they capitalise during a period with an extra player when the Hillmen’s Michael Lancaster was sent to the sin bin.

Instead they settled the outcome with 10 minutes left when prop Ben Chadwick drove over after Park’s defence had stopped while waiting for the match official to penalise a knock-on in the build-up.

Dearnaley’s resulting conversion completed the scoring.

Park Ridgway, Evans, Underdown, Alston, Gately, Lepniewski, Danny Williams, Stubbs, Matthew Cross, Lindsay, Lamb, Allmark, Pickering, Cannings, Heptinstall Replacements Robins, Treacey, Jones Try Pickering Con Lindsay Pens Lindsay (2)