NORTHWICH’S hopes of avoiding a ‘dreaded’ relegation play-off failed to materialise despite winning away to fellow strugglers West Park in the final league game of the season.
Having finished third from bottom in RFU’s Regional 2 North West, they will now host second from bottom West Park in the play-off decider at Moss Farm on Saturday, April 25, kick-off 3pm.
Winnington Park’s 59-10 home win against relegated Altrincham Kersal in their final game meant they finished fourth from bottom to remain safe in the league for next season.
Blacks went into the contest knowing that only a five-point win and results elsewhere would provide an escape.
If nothing else, victory would hand them home advantage for the play-off showdown.
It was not a pretty match, and the result could have gone either way.
However, Northwich showed the determination needed to overcome their adversaries.
The match began with the home side in full control as Northwich were pinned in their own half for the first 20 minutes.
During this period West Park took a 10-point lead.
First through a penalty kick when Blacks were caught offside.
This was followed on the 20th minute when an attacking lineout was uncontested by Northwich, who expected a penalty.
The referee though awarded a try which was subsequently converted.
On the 23rd minute Blacks finally laid assault on the WPSH line.
Following a scrum there was a multi-phase attack which ended with a try from Harry Bennett converted by Alex Speakman.
With the wind advantage in Blacks’ favour in the second half, more pressure from the visitors could have been expected but this was not the case.
West Park went further ahead with two unconverted tries in the third quarter.
It was with 15 minutes to go that Blacks stepped up a gear and pegged back the deficit with a fine try finished off by Quinlan Watson.
The extras went begging but hope had been established.
With just seven minutes remaining an attacking scrum enabled Northwich to move the ball wide for the excellent Toby Moss to score an unconverted try.
From the restart Northwich launched an attack and a break from Richard Dale saw him sprint 60 metres to score a try that levelled the match.
Up stepped Speakman who converted from out wide to give Blacks a two-point lead.
For the next four minutes Northwich had to weather a storm, holding out to secure the five points they required.
