WINNINGTON Park’s record remains perfect, but they were made to work by Marple on Saturday.

To prevail in a fixture they lost last season demonstrates progress under head coach Matt Farr, who will be happy that a side depleted by absences was still strong enough.

The visitors took the lead inside five minutes when hooker Joe Robbins touched down in the corner at the end of a flowing forwards-led move.

Marple replied with a successful penalty-kick, and they appeared to be gathering momentum when they went over the whitewash.

A conversion left them 10-5 up after half-an-hour.

Jolted, Winnington quickly drew level when scrum-half James Johnson barged to the line after taking a penalty quickly.

And they established an interval lead when Sam Brookes’ break was continued by Lee Allmark who dotted down between the posts.

Cameron Flanagan added the extras.

Park resumed where they had left off, and moved further ahead on the scoreboard after Johnson fed Aaron Brown.

The wing sprinted 40 metres with the ball before off-loading for Alex Glendinning to score.

Flanagan’s conversion made it 24-10.

Now in control and with a bonus-point secured, Park put further distance between the teams when Robbins touched down his second try following a rolling maul at a lineout.

Flanagan’s kicking remained reliable, and the fly-half also improved on a try that he created for Brown on 65 minutes.

Marple did not throw in the towel, and they were rewarded for their persistence when a clever chip-and-chase by the stand-off put a second try for them on the score-sheet.

A victory for Liverpool Collegiate against Dukinfield means Winnington’s advantage at the South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two summit is a single point despite them recording 11 straight wins.

However they have a game in hand on their closest-rivals.

Port Sunlight visit Burrows Hill next Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm.

Park | Eaves, Robbins, Underdown, Snowden, Dave Cross, Glendinning, Dykes, Treacy, Johnson, Flanagan, Pugh, Brookes, Allmark, Brown, Moran Replacements (all used) Burgess, Matthew Cross, Fowler, Critchley, Heale Tries Robbins (2), Johnson, Allmark, Glendinning, Brown Cons Flanagan (4)