Northwich suffer defeat at promotion rivals Liverpool St Helens after Gregg Smith converts late penalty

GREG Smith’s penalty with three minutes left ended Northwich’s resistance, his kick marking the only moment in the match when the home team went ahead.

It was enough to swing a close encounter their way.

Blacks have now lost to the table’s top two in successive matches, leaving them 13 points adrift of a play-off place with 11 matches left.

They took solace from two bonus points, one as a reward for scoring four tries.

John Brotherton barged over on 11 minutes to put them in front, converted by Chris Dutoy.

LSH replied after half an hour, though Sam Naylor felt a penalty try was too harsh a punishment after he entered a maul from an offside position.

Smith’s extras hauled the hosts level again.

Northwich rallied, scoring a stylish second try when Joel Barber blitzed through a gap, neatly side-stepping a remaining defender before touching down.

Dutoy successfully converted.

They were denied a third try by bad luck in the seconds before the break, Dorian Simes stopped only by a muscle pull – and Smith’s saving tackle – after sprinting the length of the pitch once he had intercepted a pass.

The Moss Laners restored parity after the restart when a drive led to prop Mark Fryer charging for the line and recycling the ball for scrum half Rob Dyer to nip over, converted by Smith.

Blacks then turned on the style, claiming the try of the match after swinging the ball across the field at speed to send in Dutoy.

They established a 10-point lead when Richard Dale’s support play resulted in a fourth try.

LSH started a recovery when flanker James Burrows crossed in the corner, converted by Smith, before his boot made sure of another three points from a penalty when the visitors failed to release the ball.

He saved his best kick until last, sending over a penalty from just inside Blacks’ half to secure a narrow victory.

Northwich will attempt to bounce back at the first attempt when they host Manchester at Moss Farm this Saturday. 

Northwich Cairns, Tangi, Brotherton, Harrison, Gavin, Watts, James, Thyne, Houghton, Dutoy, Dale, Naylor, Simes, Barber, Elliott Replacements Thompson, Smith, Underhill Tries Brotherton, Barber, Dutoy, Dale Cons Dutoy (2)

Additional reporting by Steve Wood