NORTHWICH secured town bragging rights with their ‘derby’ victory over Winnington Park in front of a big crowd at Burrows Hill on Saturday.

They never trailed as they went on to record their first win of the season, 27-18.

The Regional 2 North West affair was keenly contested and Park’s two unconverted tries in the last five minutes highlights how they never gave up the fight but had spells in the second half especially where they could not turn pressure into points.

For Blacks, it was their first win of the season and leaves them second bottom in the table, but Park remain at the foot of the ladder still awaiting their first victory.

Both clubs will feel there were improvements in their performances.

Northwich will be fully tested again this Saturday when they visit second-placed Bowdon, the division’s highest scorers in their four wins from five outings.

Park’s challenge on Saturday is a trip to third-from-bottom Eccles, who have only managed one win so far this term.

The defining moment in Saturday’s ‘derby’ came at the 70-minute mark when Blacks, leading 17-8, secured possession from a scrum which led to a fine break by their man-of-the-match full-back Boitumelo Tsatsane who charged for the line.

When he was eventually halted, he found number eight Richard Dale on his shoulder and he crossed the line for a try that was converted by Harry Naylor, who added a penalty three minutes later to wrap up Northwich’s scoring.

Earlier, Northwich, who welcomed newcomer CJ Botha to the squad and he was called on off the bench when Anthony Keller left the field with a shoulder injury, posted converted first-half tries through skipper Rory Leijdekkers and Patrick Douglas, with the latter crossing just before the break for a 14-3 Blacks lead.

Cameron Flanagan kicked Park’s first-half penalty and his side got off to great start in the second half.

A switch-kick by Northwich bounced favourably for Park and the ball was picked up by Will Du Rant who hared down the left before offloading for Tom Richardson to sprint home for 8-14.

It was ‘game on’ but Park will rue some costly errors in the wet weather when scoring opportunities were at their disposal.