WINNINGTON Park survived - because they did not lose their final game at Burrows Hill on Saturday by a lot.
They will resume in North Two West next season having edged Bowdon, who had two points deducted mid-season for fielding an ineligible player, into relegation on points difference.
Winnington have produced some good results and improved performances since Christmas, but cannot count defeat to already relegated Wilmslow among them.
Park were nervous early on and Wilmslow, with nothing to lose, ran the ball sevens-style and scored a 10th-minute try.
Stung into life, Winnington responded with a penalty from Nathan Archer and began to lose their inhibitions. Carl Patterson
then had a try disallowed for a knock-on over the line but the home side went in front when winger Rob Garbett rounded the defence to score.
The lead was overturned by another Wilmslow try before the break.
Andy Barnes and Carl Patterson cleared the way for Mark Patterson to score between the sticks and Archer added the conversion and a penalty.
But with 20 minutes remaining Park lost John Piggot after he was thumped by a Wilmslow prop, who was only sin binned for the offence.
It knocked Park out of their rhythm and Wilmslow scored two more tries to sneak victory. But with the second half penalty count of 11-2 against Winnington it was never going to be their day.
Park had an anxious wait for the result from Bowdon, who won by a point when they needed to overturn Winnington's 23 point advantage.
Losing skipper Ben Barton to a broken arm at the halfway point and seeing Barnes sidelined by a six-week suspension were major problems for Park to overcome, but survival was their only aim from Christmas onwards.
