Neighbours Winnington Park and Northwich clash in cup match

With Park in good form and Blacks struggling to adapt to life in the North Premier, all the ingredients for an upset were theoretically in place as a large crowd gathered at Burrows Hill.

It was Northwich who won the day in the end, however, running out 26-6 winners on a big day for rugby in the town.

The hosts put Blacks on the back foot in the early stages, but it was the visitors who drew first blood.

Coming in from his wing, Tom Husbands found a gap in the Park defence to touch down between the posts, allowing him the easiest of conversions.

Park’s reply was swift – Cameron Flanagan knocked over a penalty after Northwich were penalised for knocking the ball out of scrum-half James Johnson’s hands.

However, Husbands once again helped tipped the balance in his side’s favour.

After Northwich were awarded a penalty, the winger caught Park out with a quick tap to score close to the posts and extend his side’s lead to nine points at the break.

A superb ankle tap from Park’s Alex Burrage prevented a third Northwich try after the break, with the hosts going up the other end and earning a penalty for a high tackle which Flanagan duly converted.

With the gap at six points, it really was a contest that could have gone either way.

After his superb defensive intervention, Burrage had a great chance to score when he intercepted and set off towards the Northwich line, but the Blacks defence was able to bring him down.

Then, the game-breaking score came as Scott Davidson broke through for the visitors before handing on for Mike Gough to touch down, with Nick Baldwin adding the extras.

Another Davidson break led to the game’s final try, with Aaron Collins this time finishing off.

Attention returns to league matters for both sides on Saturday – Northwich travel to Wirral in the North Premier while Winnington Park host Cockermouth in the North Two West.

Winnington Park squad: Lee Allmark, Will Morrillo, Sam Brookes, Chris Twigg, Cameron Flanagan, James Johnson, Ross Morrin, Mike Eaves, Shaun Underdown, Kieran Taylor, Ben Cann, Andrew Evans, Alex Glendinning, Ryan Williams, Matt Sant, Matt Treacy, Alex Burrage, James Moran, Josh Gibbons, Matt Cross

Northwich squad: Tom Wilson, Mike Gough, Mark Thompson, Chris Heywood, Josh Warburton, Sam Naylor, Tom Clark, Chris Dale, Harry Naylor, Tom Wood, Kyle Clarke, James Weeks, Richard Dale, Tom Husbands, Joel Barber, Nick Baldwin, Scott Davidson, Ben Ridgway, Joe Maddocks, Aaron Collins

Action from Saturday's Cheshire Cup clash between Winnington Park and Northwich at Burrows Hill. Pictures by John Aston

Action from Saturday's Cheshire Cup clash between Winnington Park and Northwich at Burrows Hill. Pictures by John Aston

Action from Saturday's Cheshire Cup clash between Winnington Park and Northwich at Burrows Hill. Pictures by John Aston