WINNINGTON Park are still waiting for their first victory of the new rugby union season.

However, they can reflect on a much-improved performance against unbeaten Burnage, with the final 43-15 scoreline not a complete reflection of how things played out at Burrows Hill.

Indeed, Park had plenty of moments of joy against a well-drilled visiting side having taken the lead at the half-hour mark and being well in the game at half time.

After the hosts had started brightly, it was the visitors who scored the first try after 13 minutes but having settled back down, Park responded when Richard Hart took a quick-tap penalty and touched down in the corner.

Camaeron Flanagan converted and when he booted a penalty to take his side 10-5 up, things looked promising.

However, Burnage hit their hosts with two tries just before the break to turn around with an eight-point advantage before securing their four-try bonus point shortly after the restart.

The visitors had their tails up and put Park under pressure before catching them out with a well-worked line-out to go 31-10 up.

There was a Park response, however, with 15 minutes to go when after good ground was made by Tom King, Bruce McGrogan and Will Du Rant, Chris Twigg got them into the Burnage 22 and the ball was quickly recycled for Dan Williams to power over.

Unfortunately, that was to be as good as it got for Mike Penny’s side as Burnage finished the stronger by scoring two more unconverted tries to wrap up the game.

Park are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Widnes.

Winnington Park: Chris Twigg, Alex De Keyzer, Dan Daley, Will Du Rant, Jacob Halstein; Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart; Tom King, Frankie Davenport, Hanre Coetzee, Josh Gledhill, Gary Dykes, Anthony Hopley, Matthew Treacy, Dan Williams. Subs: Frank Gibbons, Gareth Owen, Bruce McGrogan