WINNINGTON Park halted a sequence of three successive defeats when they convincingly saw off Sefton.

They had already missed an opportunity to open the scoring from a penalty before Chris Sheppard went over the line at the end of a flowing backs-orchestrated move.

Cameron Flanagan kicked a conversion.

A stalemate followed during which neither side could take control of the contest and the visitors were off-target with a penalty-kick.

Winnington’s persistence earned a reward when teenager Sam Houghton scored his first try for a senior side after his teammates had won possession at a lineout.

Sefton put their first points on the board early in the second-half from a penalty awarded for offside, making it 12-3.

However they could not prevent Park from adding to their tally following a spell of sustained pressure that led to Harry Stubbs pushing over.

Flanagan duly added the extras.

To their credit, Sefton rallied strongly and crossed the home team’s line in the corner for a try that was converted.

Matt Farr, Winnington’s head coach, shuffled his line-up by sending on substitutes Paul Houghton, Jimmy Moran and Dan Snowden.

It worked, and the latter claimed a pushover try shortly after his introduction that Flanagan converted.

However Sefton had the final say when they punished sloppy tackling by their opponents to reduce a gap between the teams on the scoreboard.

It leaves Park sixth in the Lancs/Cheshire Division One table ahead of their next fixture at Glossop on Saturday week.

Park | Underdown, Evans, Eaves, Dave Cross, Hallworth, Treacy, Stubbs, Fowler, Matt Cross, Flanagan, Sam Houghton, Brookes, Ryan Williams, Jack Williams, Sheppard Replacements Moran, Paul Houghton, Snowden Tries Sheppard, Sam Houghton, Stubbs, Snowden Cons Flanagan (3)