WINNINGTON Park showed plenty of character to earn a try bonus point in their 45-24 defeat at second-placed Bowdon.
The Burrows Hill boys came out on top 24-14 in a much-improved second-half performance in which their fourth try scored by Will Du Randt in the final few minutes provided some reward for their toil.
It was a different story in the first half, with the hosts establishing a 31-0 lead in the Regional 2 North West clash.
Park did have some possession, but a few unforced errors stunted their attack.
This allowed Bowdon opportunities and they used their kicking game to full advantage.
They scored their first try after two minutes and added another six minutes later to take early control.
Bowdon crossed again on 21, 36 and 39 minutes, leaving Park with a tough uphill task after the break.
Park were looking like a different team at the start of the second half and used their forward strength to get over the gain line.
A nice offload from Dan Williams allowed Tom King to power over, with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras.
Then, after a Park lineout was won, Elyjah Sa’u scored from the back of the maul for his first try for the club on his second appearance.
Bowdon replied on 70 minutes with their sixth try but King went over for his second try, converted by Flanagan, after Jack Williams quickly took a penalty and off loaded.
In the closing stages each side capitalised on the other’s errors, firstly Bowdon completing their scoring before Dan Williams picked up the ball from the base of a scrum, passed to brother Jack who stepped one defender and bumped off the second and released Du Randt to score the important fourth Park try.
Winnington: Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyzer, Alex Burrage, Genesis Iuli, Sanale Mtetwa, Cameron Flanagan, Jack Williams, Joel Gaiden, Tom King, Ross Morrin, Elyjah Sa’u, Matthew Treacy, Phil Lynch, Dan Williams, Matty Davenport, Hanre Coetzee, Anthony Hopley, Jack Fenner
