WINNINGTON Park lost their way after twice fighting back at Bowdon before falling to a 38-25 defeat.

They trailed 14-0 inside 20 minutes, but recovered to lead 15-14 before Bowdon’s third converted try just before the break nudged the hosts back in front.

Park started the second half well and led 25-21 after 50 minutes but lost their rhythm and conceded three converted tries in nine minutes.

There was some controversy around the second of those last-quarter tries.

The touch judge had his flag up for Bowdon being out of the field of play, but the referee overruled and it allowed the hosts to move 31-25 clear with 10 minutes remaining and their tails up.

Park were looking to back up the previous week’s first win of the season but, with another changed side following some injuries and unavailability - with Matt Treacy taking over the captaincy – the task became more difficult as they conceded 14 points in the opening quarter.

But after winning a lineout they showed their power when setting up a maul and driving 15 metres over the line where Tom King scored.

Park got some field position and from five metres out Cameron Flanagan picked up from the back of a scrum and one pass out to Charlie Hyde brought a converted try in the corner.

Benny Elliot kicked a penalty and although Bowdon hit back before the interval he landed another after 45 minutes to narrow the points gap.

On 50 minutes 18-year-old Ben Lilley powered through two defenders and then offloaded a lovely ball to the ever-present Hyde who ran 40 metres to complete a converted try.

Unfortunately, they were the last points of the game from Park as they became very clunky and disjointed, leaving Bowdon to dominate the last quarter.

Park: Chris Twigg, Charlie Hyde, Bradley Marshall, James Weeks, Tom Merrick, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Tom King, Jake Cornwell, Mike Eaves, Joe Hickey, Jarred Lange, Sam Blears, Matt Treacy, Ben Lilley, Evan Retief, Luke Westgate, Dan Davenport.