PRIOR to this match the form book suggested Northwich’s home game with Stockport was going to be a very tight contest.

This proved to be the case as both sides showed ambition and intent from the first to the last whistle before the Blacks ran out 21-15 victors.

The Blacks started brightly and went through their phases with purpose and Baldwin’s cross field kick was gathered by Burmah.

He stepped inside the defender and a gap appeared for him to exploit and score.

Baldwin added the extras and the Blacks were underway. The next score came from a scrum in the Northwich half.

Williams picked up and the ball was moved to Dale who spotted a gap and scored an excellent individual try which Baldwin duly converted.

This galvanized Stockport and from an attacking lineout they drove over for an unconverted try.

For the next 20 minutes Stockport laid siege but all they got for their efforts was a penalty as the half drew to a close with the home side 14-8 up.

The second half started well for the visitors and 10 minutes in they took the lead off the back of a scrum when the ball was moved to the narrow side for a neat converted try.

With 20 minutes remaining Williams’ pick up from a scrum, saw Poste and Baldwin combine, the latter finding Ballie in support who finish off. Baldwin’s goal gave the Blacks a six-point advantage.

Late on both Baldwin and Husbands were sin-binned setting up a nail biting final few minutes.

Martin Poste was delighted with his charges as this result keeps Northwich in touch with the top spots.

On Saturday Northwich entertain Penrith 3pm KO

1 Mike Bradshaw 2 Mike Gough 3 Joe Maddocks 4 Chris Heywood 5 Patrick Fray 6 Jack Baille 7 Tom Clark 8 Phil Williams 9 Matthew Poste 10 Nick Baldwin 11 Shaun Burma 12 Richard Dale 13 Scott Davidson 14 Tom Husbands 15 Will du Randt 16 Anthony Keller17 Mark Thompson 18 James Wood