NORTHWICH lost for the first time this season on Isle of Man, although they returned with a bonus-point as a reward for scoring four tries.

Blacks played catch-up from the start at Douglas, and trailed 10-0 inside a quarter of an hour.

The home team went ahead with the simplest of scores, pushing their way over after securing the ball at a lineout.

A conversion was followed by a penalty after a visiting player was punished for a high-tackle.

Northwich then put their first points on the board midway through the opening period.

Captain Chris Dale collected the ball at a lineout and passed to Kyle Lindsay, who darted to the whitewash after selling a dummy.

Jimmy Reilly, on kicking duty in the absence of Nick Baldwin and James Underhill, added the extras.

His side were dealt a blow though on 32 minutes when they lost possession at a maul and Douglas conjured a second try following some slick handling.

They led 17-7 after a successful conversion.

Martin Poste’s side, which included former Winnington Park man Conor Lapniewski in the front row, again responded.

Will Du Randt’s break was decisive after Blacks had secured the ball at a lineout, and he passed inside for Joel Barber to dot down on his first appearance of the campaign.

However Blacks could not prevent their hosts from scoring again before the break, this time after a defensive scrum was turned over and an opponent went over in the corner.

The contest appeared to be over when Douglas added to their advantage early in the second period.

Their fourth try went unconverted, but at 29-12 Northwich had work to do.

However Blacks made inroads into the deficit when scrum-half Matthew Poste supplied a pass from which Sam Naylor touched down.

Reilly’s conversion gave them hope, but that disappeared when a long throw ended in Douglas hands and they went over between the posts.

Northwich’s made sure they did not return to Cheshire empty-handed, and their persistence earned a reward when Chris Dale bagged a try deep into added time.

Northwich | Bates, Lindsay, Lapniewski, Farley, Heywood, Naylor, English, Chris Dale, Poste, Reilly, Skinkis, Barber, Underhill, Richard Dale, Du Randt Replacements Harrison, Thompson Tries Lindsay, Barber, Naylor, Chris Dale Cons Reilly (2)