WINNINGTON Park continue to do what is required for them to take the league title.

However a victory against Marple, their 21st in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two this season, was not as straightforward as the table predicted it might be.

The visitors rallied during a spell in the second-half, which yielded two tries, to spark their hosts back into life.

Cameron Flanagan’s penalty opened the scoring and a first try arrived when Jack Williams, playing at outside centre rather than at scrum-half, collected a pass from Aaron Brown before going over.

Flanagan added the extras.

Brown dotted down in the corner to make it 15-0, but Marple resisted for the remaining minutes.

Head coach Matt Farr sent on Harry Stubbs, for Danny Williams, after the interval and the back-row forward made an instant impact when he charged to the line with his first touch.

Flanagan remained reliable with the boot.

There was a blow for Park when prop Alex Snasdell was carried off with a knee injury following a fall.

Marple’s best moment followed, and they put their first points on the board after punishing sloppy tackling.

A second score followed in similar fashion, although they failed to add extras.

The home team got back on track, and scrum-half Matt Cross darted through a gap before off-loading to captain Dave Cross, who added his name to the score-sheet.

Flanagan converted.

Park added gloss with time running out when Jamie Pugh, following a jinking run, invited Lee Allmark to go over.

They occupy top spot in the table, five points clear of Liverpool Collegiate, with five games left.

A trip to Port Sunlight follows next weekend.

Park | Evans, Eaves, Snasdell, Snowden, Dave Cross, Danny Williams, Dykes, Treacy, Matt Cross, Flanagan, Ryan Williams, Brown, Jack Williams, Pugh, Allmark Replacements Stubbs, Burgess, Underdown Tries Jack Williams, Brown, Stubbs, Dave Cross, Allmark Cons Flanagan (3) Pen Flanagan