Winnington Park 17

Middlesbrough 22

Thwaites North 1

Saturday, October 9

THIS was certainly a game of two halves with Park leading 17-6 at half-time and looking in good form, only for Boro to storm back after the break.

Two early penalties kicked by New Zealander James Noonan served only to fuel some sparkling attacking play by Park.

A 16th-minute penalty by full-back Gary Bell was the signal for Park to produce concerted play by forwards and backs to create a brilliantly taken try by Bell, which he converted.

It was impossible to keep Bell out of the action and he made another incisive break and fed the ball to Carl Patterson, who stepped inside the opposing defence and scored under the posts. Bell converted to give Park their useful half-time lead.

Whatever was said at half-time had more effect on the Middlesbrough team. They tightened up their game, played possession rugby and waited for the inevitable Winnington mistakes.

A try in the left corner by winger Stephen Jones made the score 17-11 and a Noonan penalty punished Park's forwards for lying on the ball.

At 17-14 it was all Middlesbrough and the inevitable try by flanker Jason Westwood put Park in arrears at 19-17. Just before the end Noonan kicked another penalty and Winnington were left to wonder how the game had slipped away.

In looking forward to their NPI Cup clash with Northwich this Saturday, Winnington need to concentrate on the positives from their game - the fine tackling and distribution of young fly-half Phil Beswick, the electric speed of the Barton brothers in the centre and the strong play of Andy Critchley and Mike Palmer in the pack.

Park must also provide more ball for the brilliant Bell to show his all-round footballing skills. They also need to scrummage harder and stay on their feet in the loose.

Coach Len Davies and skipper Mike Bebbington know what has to be done.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.