WINNINGTON Park secured their third win of the season at home to league newcomers Whitchurch.

Charlie Hyde’s converted try in the 65th minute proved decisive as Park ran out 22-19 victors to maintain eighth spot in Regional 2 North West.

Park, who have no game this coming weekend and will be next in action away to Douglas on the Isle of Man on December 2, immediately went on the attack against Whitchurch.

But errors by Park stunted their attacks and slowed the game down.

Park eventually settled into their phase play with great ball retention and strong carries, and this paid off on 10 minutes off the back of a scrum.

Dan Williams, Cameron Flanagan and James Weeks combined to put Nathan Taylor over in the corner (5-0).

On 16 minutes, from a scrum five metres out, quick ball to Benny Elliot allowed Hyde to break through the defence and offload for Bradley Marshall to power through and score.

Whitchurch struck back with a well worked try which came off the back of a scrum and quick ball to the winger.

Benny Elliot kicked a superb long-range penalty to increase the lead to 15-5.

Then in the final minute of the first half, Park had an opportunity out wide but the pass from Elliot was intercepted by Whitchurch and they scored an easy converted try to close the gap to 15-12.

If they didn’t know at the start, it was evident from the first half that Park were going to have to dig deep in the second stanza.

An injury to Bruce McGrogan forced Park into changes and scrummaging was compromised.

Whitchurch seized the opportunity and after a couple of scrum penalties, Whitchurch were awarded a penalty try on 46 minutes to take the lead 19-15.

That also brought a yellow card for Jake Cornwell and forced uncontested scrums.

The game was very much in the balance and Park worked hard in all areas but indiscipline saw them give away too many penalties which allowed Whitchurch to pin the hosts into their own half.

Winnington were defiant in defence though held Whitchurch to no further points in the second half.

The winning points came after Park forced Whitchurch into a succession of penalties.

And then Dan Williams picked up at the back of a scrum, offloaded in the tackle to Hyde who stepped inside and beat the defence to touch down Park’s third try which was converted by Elliot.

Park worked hard to close the game out and complete a gritty win.

Park: Chris Twigg, James Weeks, Charlie Hyde, Bradley Marshall, Nathan Taylor, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams, Ben Lilley, Matt Treacy, Alex Grogan, Jarred Lange, Bruce McGrogan, Jake Cornwell, Evan Retief, Gary Dykes, Jack England, Dan Davenport.