ALTHOUGH Northwich Rugby Club secured back-to-back victories for the first time since November, they missed the opportunity to place their points difference into the positive when they only beat struggling Burnage 29-14 at Moss Farm on Saturday.
Starting the match on minus 37 points, Blacks looked at one stage to be on course to achieve a positive points differential for the first time in this campaign.
However, it was a tale of two halves with the home side dominating proceedings in the first half and then a combination of stepping off and ill-discipline in the second meant they will have to rely on their next two fixtures against lower placed teams in order to achieve a positive points difference.
Hopes were high among the Moss Farm faithful when in the first half Northwich scored four unanswered tries, two of which were converted, to establish a 24-0 scoreline.
American Football running back Jacob Goeppner touched down for an unconverted try.
When right wing Tom Husband was tackled 40 metres out, Liam Batt was on hand to scoop the laid-back ball at pace and race away for an unopposed try, Baldwin adding the extras.
Mphatso Mwhashi made several yards with a barnstorming run and when the ball went loose Husband fly-hacked the ball in field and it bounced kindly for the winger to collect and score, with Baldwin again improving.
Disciplined and determined Northwich further stretched their lead three minutes later when Nick Baldwin scored a try, rounding off a great charge and support play by Scott Davidson, Chris Heywood, Andre Nell and Jordan Clarke.
The first 20 minutes of the re-start was fairly uneventful as Northwich’s ill-discipline took the edge off the home side’s previous dominance and appeared to give Burnage some encouragement.
The withdrawal of Baldwin with a touch of tonsillitis after 13 minutes didn’t help Blacks’ cause either.
After a sustained period of pressure, Burnage managed to open their account on 20 minutes.
The score did knock Northwich into a response, and when awarded a penalty just outside the visitors’ 22, Batt took a quick tap and fed the hard-working Rory Leidekkers and he quickly passed out wide left to replacement hooker Kyle Lindsay who strolled in for an easy try. Husband was unable to convert.
It appeared the home side decided to sit back and allow Burnage to take control of the game.
Northwich’s defence was tested to the full and despite a series of penalties conceded, managed to keep the south Manchester club at bay until the final play of the match, when prop Elijah Stone dived over from close range.
Up next Northwich visit Kendal, who sit one place below them in the table.
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