AFTER last weekend's stunning victory, Northwich will be favourites to beat Manchester on home turf.

Across the fence, Winnington Park's first-team return to action after a fortnight's enforced break when Tarleton arrive at Burrows Hill.

It means rugby followers in the the town are spoiled for choice on Saturday afternoon.

Northwich's 21-19 win at Carlisle, the North One West leaders and favourites to be promoted as champions, is their third in succession in all competitions and one that keeps them in contention for a play-off place.

However they must be wary of visitors that did a double over them last season.

Manchester sit ninth in the table, four points clear of third-bottom Waterloo, and make the trip buoyed by brushing aside Warrington last time out.

Winnington have been thwarted by the weather from playing away games at Fleetwood and Glossop in the past two weeks.

Head coach Matt Farr will be hoping that hasn't halted the momentum of a side that has won three successive matches, including a brilliant 20-15 success against promotion-hopefuls Rochdale last month.

Indeed, Park have won their past four home games.

They will be wary too that Tarleton prevailed 34-33 in the return back in October.

Northwich under 18s have won their past three matches in the North West Colts League, including a 64-0 demolition of Bury last weekend, and seek to extend that sequence when Broughton Park visit on Sunday.

Fixtures

Saturday, February 16

RFU Northern Division (ko 2.15pm)

North One West: Northwich v Manchester.

Lancs/Cheshire Division One: Winnington Park v Tarleton.

North West Intermediate League (ko 2.15pm)

Division Two South: Holmes Chapel v Northwich 2nd; Liverpool St Helens 2nd v Winnington Park 2nd.

Division Four South: Macclesfield 4th v Northwich 3rd; Newcastle-under-Lyme 2nd v Winnington Park 3rd.

Sunday, February 17

North West Colts League (ko 2pm)

Senior D: Northwich v Broughton Park.