WITH league survival on the line, Winnington Park came good when it really mattered.

They went into their final game of the campaign – a home game against Altrincham Kersal on Saturday – knowing a win would keep them in the RFU Regional North Two West for another season, but they trailed 19-14 at half time.

What followed, however, was an excellent second-half display as they stormed back to win 40-19 and ensure they would not be relegated.

The result means they finish the campaign in ninth place and can look forward to ‘derby’ matches against neighbours Northwich, who were relegated from the tier above, next season.

Park started well and after Charlie Hyde had made a great run into the visitors’ 22, the ball was recycled for Dan Williams to cross on an angled run after just three minutes.

Back came Altrincham, though, and an excellent run from the AK centre led to him offloading for a try to be scored between the posts to level the scores at 7-7.

Park regrouped and tried to apply pressure but made mistakes to allow the visitors into attacking position and having initially defended well, AK eventually broke through on the wing to take the lead.

However, the hosts responded well to this setback and having won a scrum inside the visitors’ half, Jack Williams and Benny Elliot combined to release Hyde, who broke a tackle and stepped through to score with Elliot’s conversion pulling them level.

Altrincham scored from short range to complete the first-half scoring, but what followed proved decisive as Park went up a gear.

The scores were level when Lewis Pickering touched down in the corner to finish off a break from their own 20 as Tom King, Dan Williams and Freddie Kenyon combined to get them into position before quick ball found Pickering to score.

Elliot then added two long-range penalties to ensure that, within 10 minutes of the restart, Park had gone from being five points behind to six points in front.

And it would get better still – Elliot’s boot once again punished Altrincham’s indiscipline to put his side into a crucial two-score lead and it was the sure-footed scrum-half who secured Park a bonus point as he supported a 30-metre break from Chris Twigg to sprint home and add the conversion himself.

Park were now firmly in the driving seat as the game reached its final quarter and they saw it out expertly while adding to their tally.

Elliot was at the heart of things again as they rounded off the scoring with a fifth try – with the freedom of a penalty advantage, he produced the perfect cross-field kick to send Roan Cornwell over the try line.

Winnington Park: Chris Twigg, James Weeks, Charlie Hyde, Lewis Pickering, Roan Cornwell, Benny Elliot, Jack Williams; Dan Williams, Matt Treacy, Gary Dykes, Joe Hickey, Jarred Lange, Ross Morrin, Jake Cornwell, Bruce McGrogan, Richard Hart, Tom King, Freddie Kenyon

Winnington Park to host Cheshire junior tournament

Meanwhile, Winnington Park RFC will play host to junior teams from all over the north west next weekend.

Burrows Hill is hosting the Cheshire RFU under 11s festival on Sunday, April 21, with teams from Cheshire and beyond descending on the club for a day full of fixtures.

A free lunch will be provided for all players, with a variety of food and drink options on offer for families and spectators while the clubhouse facilities will be open on the day.

Presentations will follow after the conclusion of the matches.