Northwich record third successive league win after close encounter with lowly Sefton

NORTHWICH secured a third successive league win, though not without toil as Sefton performed better than their position in the league table might have predicted.

Blacks, already depleted by injuries, were disrupted further when the involvement Jack Watts and Chris Dutoy ended in the first half for the same reason.

They trailed inside the first minute too; their guests stealing possession before a well-judged kick progressed a move that ended in an unconverted try.

The visitors strong in the set piece while Northwich, starved of possession, struggled to put together their usual patterns.

When they did win a quick ball from the top of a lineout, Dutoy broke through the line before feeding Richard Dale who touched down.

He added the extras, then slotted a penalty to extend the home team’s interval lead to 10-5.

Sefton had the wind at their backs for the second period, but chose to run with the ball rather than kick it towards the corners.

That strategy seemed flawed when, attempting to run from their own 22, they ceded possession.

From the turnover, a short pass for Liam Gavin was enough to send him over.

A stalemate followed, ended when Kiwi import Grayson Thyne was sent to the sin bin as punishment for going over the top at a ruck.

This time the visitors did kick for the corner, notching their second unconverted score following a catch and drive from the resulting lineout.

Northwich assumed the initiative during the closing stages, though they survived a huge scare after Sefton started a final attack from their own line.

However, player coach Sam Naylor won a race to a kick forward before scrum half Robin Houghton sent the ball out of play.

Blacks’ reward is to climb to fourth in the table, one place – but a dozen points – adrift of neighbours Winnington.

A trip to West Park, currently fifth, awaits this weekend.  

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