WINNINGTON Park suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday.
They were narrowly beaten 23-17 in a hard-fought contest at Burnage.
The bonus point earned keeps Park third in the Regional 2 North West table ahead of their next fixture at home to Widnes on Saturday, October 4.
Several injuries meant Harry Dodd, James Wilkinson and Rafa Van Osselaer were drafted into the side for a match played in very wet conditions on an artificial pitch.
Park had an early opportunity following a kick by Jack Williams which was not taken by Burnage.
Phil Lynch pounced, passed to Riewoldt Teabuge who ran down the left wing but he was tackled in the Burnage 22 and the ball was lost.
A few minutes later Cameron Flanagan landed a penalty for a 3-0 lead.
Park successfully defended a spell of pressure and then back at the other end indiscipline meant Burnage gave away another penalty and Flanagan extended the lead from the tee.
Burnage, after missing 35-metre penalty attempt, did go on to score the opening try on the back of a penalty Park conceded for offside.
The hosts won a lineout and took the ball through four phases before making their possession count.
Burnage were off target with another penalty attempt but as the game got scrappy in the conditions they succeeded with two other attempts in the 32nd and 36th minutes for a 13-6 interval lead.
Runs from Will Du Randt and Dan Williams created a scoring chance for Phil Lynch from seven metres out but he was unable to take in the pass.
Du Randt soon made amends, capitalising on an offload from Williams for Park’s first try as the deficit was cut to 13-11.
Both teams traded penalties and the game was relatively even at this stage, with both sides having possession and territory and not being able to convert into points.
In the closing stages Burnage scored the killer try after Park’s short-kick play from a scrum on their own 22 backfired.
The Burnage scrum-half picked up the loose ball, took it into contact and Park were penalised at the breakdown.
Burnage took a quick tap and scored between the posts.
Park caught Burnage offside and elected to take the points from the tee through Flanagan.
With only minutes Park had a penalty and kicked to touch but the lineout was not straight, and Burnage kicked the ball out to win the game.
