NORTHWICH saw off Anselmians for a second successive Saturday although, as expected, they had to work harder this time around.

Blacks, depleted by the absence of Joel Barber, Will Du Randt and Robin Houghton from their backs division and injured Chris James from the second row, still found a way.

They had to withstand early pressure from their opponents, promoted from the level below and playing for the first time at their temporary home, before taking the lead.

A penalty awarded for an infringement at the ruck was taken quickly by captain Matthew Poste and his pass released Richard Dale who charged to the line.

Nick Baldwin added the extras.

Anselmians were then reduced to 14 men when Tulima Nonu was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle, and the visitors took advantage.

A multi-phase attack created space in midfield for Dale, who glided through a gap in the home team’s defence to double his personal tally.

Baldwin’s conversion attempt was successful.

Liam Isaacs put points on the board for his side with a penalty, a trick he repeated before the break to make it 6-14.

Northwich began the second-half on the front foot following a scrum, and applied constant pressure to their hosts’ line.

However carries from the likes of Joe Maddocks, Martin Balshaw and Conor Lapniewski were rebuffed by a resolute defence.

Blacks added to their lead though when they punished a mistake, wing Josh Wilkinson collecting a misplaced pass before sprinting 70 metres to dot down between the posts.

Baldwin remained reliable, and Annies’ resistance was broken.

Scrum-half Josh Stead and substitute Dan Salisbury both received yellow cards during the closing stages to leave their side with 13 men.

Adam Bennett, making league debut for Blacks, was also sent to the sin bin before James Worrall and Liam Sadler combined to conjure a try for the latter that Isaacs converted.

Northwich | Maddocks, Lapniewski, Bennett, Heywood, Harrison, Balshaw, Clark, Naylor, Poste, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Chris Dale, Richard Dale, Skinkis, Underhill Replacements Ridgway, Farley, Gough Tries Richard Dale (2), Wilkinson Cons Baldwin (3)

Match report by Steve Wood