Stockport 32 Winnington Park 0
WINNINGTON won self- respect, if not points, at promotion contenders Stockport on Saturday.
They put their hosts under prolonged spells of pressure but their fitness, strength and power shone through a superb performance.
The mud was thick and clinging and despite retrieving some pride Winnington are a little deeper in the relegation mire.
SIX POINT MISTAKE? Stockport led by eight points at the break. Play had been even and Park twice turned down the chance of kickable penalties to run the ball.
Veteran scrum half Mark Warr bossed the pack and with Anthony Sullivan, Carl Patterson and Harry Stubbs in outstanding form the Park forwards competed well.
SWITCH OFF: Winnington switched off – or rather did not switch on – at the start of the second half and Stockport took the game out of their reach with two tries in quick succession.
Park’s young side were suddenly a dispiriting 22 points adrift and Stockport found it easier to exert their dominance.
GAME THAT COUNTS: They kept plugging away and might have scored twice but for the want of a better call or bounce of the ball. Their backs were unable to involve themselves enough and a pat of their own backs for the effort was their only reward.
Rob Garbett, Mark Phoenix and Phil Parrot return for Saturday’s ‘must win’ home game against Leigh.
Park 3rds won handsomely, 32-0 at Whitchurch 2nds. Sam Owen (2), Dave Caine, Chris Morrison, Dave Lilley, Andy Howells scored tries, Matt Thurwell a conversion. Colt prop forward Gareth Marshall was man of the match.
The 2nds were without a fixture, but having won seven of the last eight games they are challenging for promotion and are at Bowdon on Saturday.
