WINNINGTON Park breathed life into their hopes of avoiding relegation with a victory over Douglas on Saturday that ends a sequence of five successive defeats.

The Isle of Man outfit were five minutes away from banishing the memory of a humiliating defeat at Burrows Hill last season, only to endure further pain when Jack Williams – who scored 20 of the hosts’ points – claimed a decisive try in the closing stages.

It secured a first league win since December 5.

“We looked like a side that had almost forgotten how to!” admitted coach Roger Pickering afterwards.

“When the finish line was in sight, we found out again just how hard it is to get over.”

His side stopped a recent run of slow starts, and their performance during the early exchanges deserved more than a narrow lead given to them by a Williams’ penalty.

The visitors levelled with a three-pointer of their own, then punished sloppy tackling to score a first try.

Winnington responded but they wasted opportunities when a final pass too often went astray.

They at least restored parity by the break, Williams dancing his way past Douglas defenders before touching down following a clean catch-and-drive from an attacking line-out.

Prop Shaun Underdown spurred on his teammates in the second half, making an impact with trademark bursts from the edge of the ruck.

Park could not be clinical though, and they were frustrated when Douglas again took the lead again with a converted try.

Williams cut the deficit with another penalty, and returning skipper Harry Stubbs – playing in an unfamiliar role at centre – left a tiring defence standing when he took a quick tap and raced to the line.

Williams’ extras made it 18-15.

Instead of feeling assured, the hosts grew nervous.

They were relieved when a Douglas penalty hit an upright, but that sensation turned to dismay when the visitors won possession at the resulting scrum before touching down.

Their lead was worth four points with the conversion.

There was to be a further twist, when James Moran won a foot-race to reach Williams’ kick deep into the away team’s territory.

The fly-half followed his teammate forward, and was in place to receive a well-timed pass that set up his second try.

With the extras, Park could at last savour a first success of 2016.

Pickering added: “We need to build on this, and play the rugby we’re capable of for longer periods.”

A trip to back-markers Hoylake follows next Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm.

Park Taylor, Evans, Underdown, Dave Cross, Josh Brown, Treacy, Danny Williams, Lapniewski, Moran, Jack Williams, Lamb, Owen, Stubbs, Sheppard, Allmark Replacements Ridgway, Neary, Johnson Tries Jack Williams (2), Stubbs Con Jack Williams (2) Pens Jack Williams (2)