Northwich 16 Winnington Park 22

WHEN new recruit Tom Bell kicked a penalty for Northwich in added time, the hosts’ faces wore expressions of relief at recording an unlikely victory.

It was a fleeting feeling.

Those puffed cheeks turned crimson when, after Park had worked their way up the field following moments later, Fraser Lindsay flopped onto a loose ball to score a penalty try.

The home support directed their anger at the decision of referee Dan Taylor who, clad in bright pink and sky blue, had nowhere to hide.

Undeterred, he blew his whistle the moment Jack Williams’ conversion had sailed between the sticks.

Winnington, never before a victor against their neighbours in a league encounter, did not disguise their glee breaking that duck.

It was a plot twist few will have foretold after a surprisingly subdued opening hour.

Both teams are adapting to a changes off the field following the appointments of Martin Poste, at Northwich, and Roger Pickering across the fence.

And after a single competitive match each, both ending in exits from the Cheshire Vase seven days earlier, those sides are not yet up to speed.

There were individual errors and fumbles. A high penalty count too.

After conceding an early penalty, converted without fuss by Richard Dale, Park settled quicker.

They were rewarded after seven minutes when full back James Moran cut a swathe through Blacks’ defence after receiving Jack Williams’ pass. The latter converted.

Dale sent two more three-point attempts short before Northwich, with a man advantage while Winnington’s Chris Sheppard spent time in the sin bin, put together a flowing move that ended with Robin Houghton’s assist inviting Chris Dale to power over.

James Underhill could not convert.

Before the break, however, Park scored a second try.

Their superior strength up front brought reward, Danny Williams touching down after his teammates applied pressure close to Blacks’ line.

When Jack Williams kicked a penalty shortly after the interval, Park’s lead was worth seven points.

A first flashpoint followed, and Chris Dale’s frustration prompted Taylor to send him off – if only temporarily – to calm down.

Northwich, sensing Park beginning to tire, gradually assumed control.

And their backs produced the move of the match to reduce the deficit, switching play from one side of the pitch to the other to create a gap for Chris James to barge into.

However Bell’s attempt to add extras, from wide on the right, fell short.

He was more accurate in the final minute, edging his side in front at 16-15.

Park perhaps felt their last chance had gone when James Johnson’s penalty attempt from distance dropped below the crossbar.

However Lindsay, opportunistic after Lewis Pickering was – in the match official’s opinion – stopped unfairly from scoring, had the last laugh.

Northwich Hulbert, Thompson, Grabski, Heywood, Farley, James, Chris Dale, Poste, Davies, Edwards, Naylor, Underhill, Richard Dale, Houghton, Barber Replacements Bell, Gavin, Racika Tries Chris Dale, James Pens Richard Dale, Bell

Park Burgess, Brown , Underdown, Dave Cross, Alston, Lapniewski, Danny Williams, Stubbs, Johnson, Jack Williams, Sheppard, Lindsay, Pickering, Witter, Moran Replacements Gately, Taylor, Glendinning Tries Moran, Danny Williams, Lindsay Cons Jack Williams (2) Pen Jack Williams