Rugby Union: First win on club’s special occasion

Sep 26 2007 by John Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

WINNINGTON Park marked their official Club Centenary Day with their first win of the season in North Division Two West, beating Vale of Lune 22-17 in a fine game at Burrows Hill.

Watched by many specially-invited ex-players amid a large crowd, Park quickly went 10-0 behind, but improved to lead 22-10 at half-time, then had to hang on.

Winnington scored tries through Mike Morton, Peter Dennett, Gareth May – his third in successive games – and Neil Welsh, with Ben Elliot converting only one in a day of swirling winds.

Coach Mark Warr was pleased with the performance, but told his players they will need to pace themselves better when they face a tough visit to neighbours Chester on Saturday.

A couple of hundred yards away, promoted Northwich’s unexpectedly poor start to their Division Two West campaign continued when they were hammered 17-3 by Broughton Park, all they had to show for 60% possession being a Gary Bell penalty.

Unbeaten in league and cup last season when they wound up as EDF Vase winners at Twickenham, the Blacks just cannot get going and this second defeat in eight days was a bitter blow.