Winnington Park 55-19 Liverpool Collegiate

ONCE Winnington Park hit their stride, there was no catching them.

That took longer than they would have liked against lowly opponents who were boosted by taking a surprise lead in the opening minute after pinching possession at a lineout.

The home team put their first points on the board when Cameron Flanagan successfully landed a penalty-kick but the visitors responded with a driving maul that took them over the line for a second time.

Park coach Matt Farr sent on Harry Stubbs to bolster his pack, and it had the desired affect.

When Liverpool were judged to have collapsed a scrum, Sam Brookes was alert to tap a penalty before darting to the line.

Flanagan’s extras left the hosts 12-10 adrift at the interval.

They improved in the second-half and inside two minutes Lee Allmark’s pass invited full-back Jack Williams to score.

Flanagan’s conversion followed and Park inflicted further pain on their guests after they had a player sent to the sin bin.

Alex Glendinning tapped the penalty and dotted down.

A swift break by Allmark saw the ball move from his hands to Matt Treacy’s before he passed to Stubbs who sprinted over on his 300th first-team appearance.

Flanagan remained reliable, and Park were in their groove.

Glendinning then repeated a trick from the previous week when he ripped the ball from a rival’s hands at the back of a scrum before sprinting the length of the pitch to score.

There was another try-scoring cameo for Colts graduate Jamie Hawes who went over in the corner with his first touch after replacing Jimmy Moran.

Park continued to apply pressure and skipper Dave Cross’ charge deep into Liverpool territory ended with him offloading for Allmark to add his name to a growing list of scorers.

An eighth and final Winnington try saw Stubbs turn provider for Cross, and Flanagan land a fifth conversion.

However Liverpool had the final say when they crossed the whitewash a third time from the last play of the contest.

Park | Eaves, Evans, Snowden, Hallworth, Dave Cross, Glendinning, Treacy, Danny Williams, Matt Cross, Flanagan, Brookes, Houghton, Jack Williams, Allmark, Moran Replacements Stubbs, Dykes, Hawes Tries Brookes, Jack Williams, Glendinning (2), Stubbs, Hawes, Allmark, Dave Cross Cons Flanagan (5) Pen Flanagan