A quick try by Doug Day settled the nerves and reminded Manchester that he will be missed as he shrugged off a couple of tackles for an impressive score, only just missing the conversion (0-5).

Manchester were already controlling the game but the second try was a gift as a speculative kick was poorly dealt with, allowing Rob Chance to collect and score out wide to put the visitors 10 points clear in as many minutes. The scoring rate continued as the forwards predictably but effectively secured good lineout ball for a catch & drive to the line to make it 0-15.

The half hour point arrived with a second try by Day and Manchester’s fourth, as he sprinted through a hapless defence to touch down under the posts to simplify the conversion for Ian Jinks who made it 0-22.

With perhaps a little less finesse but more than made up with by sheer power, James Brodie, the star of the previous evening’s Ladies Night (apparently…), found his way through a crowded defence to put Manchester seemingly out of sight at 0-27 at the break, the missed conversions not really being much of a worry at this point.

WInnington Park retreated to the changing rooms for their half time break, and whatever was said, certainly had the desired effect! A fired-up team were perhaps fortunate to be allowed to take a quick penalty that caught Manchester unawares but nonetheless they were soon on the scoreboard to make it 7-27.

Despite their lead, Manchester were now weathering a storm and from an enjoyable attacking display in the first half, it was backs to the wall as they found themselves pinned deep in their own half for long periods. Another quick penalty made it 14-27 but the resilient defence meant that was now with only 10 minutes to go.

It felt that if only the visitors could get one more score then maybe the stubborn resistance would disappear. Unfortunately, that never happened, the slick first half performance became error strewn and there was some relief when the half ended without Winnington Park having grabbed an unlikely losing bonus point.