Northwich are second best against motivated Broughton Park

FOR Northwich, a chastening defeat.

Tries during added time for replacement Aaron Collins and Scott Davidson, both converted by Nick Baldwin, made a gap between the teams on the scoreboard a more respectable one.

However Northwich, beaten for the first time since January, were playing catch-up from the moment Joshua Hodkinson exploited a gap in their defence to score inside five minutes.

He converted his score too.

Broughton Park, still in need of points to ease any lingering fears they might be dragged into a scrap to avoid relegation, added to their lead when Adedayo Titiloye dotted down shortly afterwards.

A three-pointer from Baldwin got Blacks off the mark and they improved afterwards.

Sam Naylor then collected the ball from the base of a scrum and initiated a series of carries that ended with Collins going over.

Baldwin’s extras followed.

Broughton Park responded though and repeated a trick that led to their opening try when a controlled lineout and neat break from midfield created an opportunity for Matthew Joseph to make it 17-10 at half-time.

The home team secured a bonus-point when Campbell Thomson barged over after a scrum close to the Northwich line had led to pressure they could not withstand.

When Hodkinson doubled his personal tally, adding a conversion too, Park had moved out of Blacks’ reach.

They did not score again until Joseph Sinclair went over with time running out, converted by Hodkinson, to leave their opponents 36-10 adrift.

To their credit, Northwich persisted until the final whistle and a kick cross-field was caught by Will Du Randt before he stepped inside and invited a supporting Collins to claim a second try.

Baldwin’s successful conversion followed, and the visitors scored again from the restart when Davidson went over.

Northwich, who play the North One West table’s bottom two teams in their remaining matches, can still finish third.

Northwich | Maddocks, Lapniewski, Bennett, Williams, Clark, James, Burmah, Naylor, Poste, Baldwin, Husband, Richard Dale, Davidson, Du Randt, Barber Replacements Collins, Gough, Laddle Tries Collins (2), Davidson Cons Baldwin (3) Pen Baldwin