Wirral 25 Winnington Park 0
DEPLETED Winnington fought valiantly on Saturday but their efforts went unrewarded for the eighth consecutive time.
The scoreline flattered the hosts as a Winnington squad ravaged by injury and absences remarkably held the third-placed hosts at 0-0 for 50 minutes.
In a match played in terrible conditions on Wirral’s second-team pitch, Park dominated the early forward exchanges but could not take advantage. Captain Will Burgess and Ali Knowles stood out but flowing rugby was limited due to the wind and rain.
Ben Elliott missed a penalty ensuring the sides went into the break level.
Using the slope to their advantage, Wirral broke the deadlock with two penalties and forged further ahead when they scored direct from a scrum.
The try was harsh on Park as the scrum had clearly rotated 90 degrees before the hosts’ back row broke down the blindside.
Tensions began to flare and, following two sin-binnings, Cross and Lamb soon left the pitch through injury.
Frustrated player-coach Mark Warr added some desire to proceedings from the substitutes’ bench but hopes of staging a fightback were dashed when the hosts scored two late tries.
On Saturday Park take a break from the pressures of league rugby when they host Ormskirk in the third round of the EDF Senior Vase.
That is followed by two vital league games at home to Dukinfield and away to Wigan. If Park are to stand any chance of lifting themselves clear of the danger zone then something must be taken from these two fixtures.
Other scores: Glossop 2nds 25 Winnington Park 2nds 5 (try: Phoenix), Sale 3rds 41 WP 3rds 17 (tries: Thurlwell 2, Almond; cons: Thurlwell), WP Colts 34 Sandbach Colts 10, Lymm U14s 48 WP U14s 0.
