MATT Farr praised his players’ powers of recovery but admitted Winnington Park left themselves with too much to do before they fought back at Tarleton.

The visitors trailed 22-0 inside half an hour last weekend, a margin between the teams that remained by the break.

They almost overturned it though.

“Our forward play was great in the second-half – I was impressed,” said Park’s head coach.

“But we took 15 minutes at the start of the game to get into our stride and it cost us dearly because by then we were on the back foot.”

Tarleton scored three tries, converting two of them, and a penalty before hooker Andrew Evans dived over to put his side’s first points on the board.

Cameron Flanagan added the extras, only for the home team to respond straight away with another converted score to lead 29-7 at the interval.

Farr’s words had an impact and Chris Sheppard claimed the first try of the second period, converted by Flanagan.

Another followed from Danny Williams after Winnington’s pack had put pressure on their opponents with a driving maul.

There was a setback when Sheppard was sent to the sin-bin and Williams sustained a knee injury while defending.

Tarleton took advantage, scoring another try to lead 34-19.

It did not deter the visitors and Sheppard went over again upon his return, Flanagan again kicking the conversion successfully.

And their hopes of an unlikely victory were raised further after Shaun Underdown drove over their fifth try of the contest.

Flanagan’s extras closed the gap to a single point, but Tarleton’s defence held firm for the minutes that remained to protect their side’s victory.

Farr added: “It’s a reminder to the lads that they must focus for 80 minutes.”

Table-toppers Altrincham Kersal, the only side still unbeaten in Lancs/Cheshire Division One this season, travel to Burrows Hill on Saturday.

Park | Underdown, Evans, Eaves, Dave Cross, Hallworth, Dykes, Danny Williams, Treacy, Johnson, Flanagan, Twigg, Brookes, Moran, Ryan Williams, Sheppard Replacements Heale, Critchley, Eastwood Tries Evans, Sheppard (2), Danny Williams, Underdown Cons Flanagan (4)