WINNINGTON Park were edged out by league leaders Birkenhead Park in a 15-try thriller at Burrows Hill.

Although defeated 51-43 with a reshuffled side that included a home debut for 18-year-old Freddie Kenyon, Winnington’s performance from the previous week’s exploits in Cumbria was a massive leap and this was probably their best display of the season so far.

They scored 24 points without reply in the first half as they recovered from 17-5 down to lead 29-17.

The sides turned round 29-29 and the scoring was tit-for-tat in the second half until the Wirral side took advantage of Winnington being down to 14 men through injuries in the last 10 minutes in order to score the decisive try.

Charlie Hyde scored the first and last of Winnington’s tries, with James Weeks, two, Benny Elliot, and Frank Gibbons also touching down.

Winnington: Chris Twigg, James Weeks, Charlie Hyde, Lewis Pickering, Nathan Taylor, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams, Matt Treacy, Frank Gibbons, Jarred Lange, Joe Hickey, Ross Morrin, Evan Retief, Tom King, Sam Blears, Bruce McGrogan and Freddie Kenyon.