Park Strife...

The chance of first blood from an easy penalty was rejected as Manchester characteristically chose to run the ball. The decision was rued when the ball was neatly worked across field but lost just five metres out allowing a grateful Winnington Park to clear to touch.
Both sides were keen to move the ball in the opening exchanges but the movements were lateral with the defences holding firm. Manchester’s was the first to crack after 10 minutes, when two half tackles proved costly, disappointingly allowing a converted score that should have been stopped at the first or at least second opportunity (0-7).

Manchester were quickly on the attack from the restart and when Joe Houghton came off his wing to join Matt Davies attacking on the right, it looked as if one of the two Manchester wingers were in. That moved was forced into touch and, shortly after, a further attack down the same touchline by Luke Tyrrell was similarly repelled.

With Manchester in the ascendancy but still pointless, a simple penalty was accepted. The points were deserved but a poor strike left Manchester still a score behind. More self-inflicted misery was to come at the end of the first quarter as a race towards the Manchester line from a speculative kick forward by the visitors, bobbled away from the home defender and was, after a moment’s deliberation by the referee, adjudged to have been touched down by the attacker (0-12).

Still Manchester looked lively, but Winnington Park certainly knew how to use the touchline as an extra defender and Manchester kept running out of room despite some slick passing. Persistence eventually paid off however when another kickable penalty was run for a classic move across the three-quarters to Joe Houghton who touched down in the corner. An excellent conversion by Doug Day closed the gap to 7-12 on the half hour.

Unfortunately, a crucial score was conceded five minutes later when Manchester attempted to launch an attack from their own half. An overly ambitious pass was easily intercepted for an embarrassingly easy run in to stretch Park’s lead to 7-19.

The half closed with an excellent try by visitors, albeit originating from yet another interception, but this time they were left with more work to do. With the Manchester defence out of position however, WP’s runners were able to work the ball to score under the posts and an unlikely try bonus point was chalked up by half time (7-26).

The second half started with less energy from both teams, one side maybe thinking the job was done and the other licking their wounds. However Manchester gradually began to assert themselves with Brian Ndlovu in particular on a mission with some bullocking runs to set up good field positions. Poorly executed passes and wrong options in the middle of the field meant that the territory was not taken advantage of and the first quarter passed with the away side soaking up the pressure but exerting none of their own.

A spark was clearly needed and this was eventually provided by a superb solo try from Day who, with little space and plenty of defenders ahead of him, somehow managed to navigate his way through from near half way. At 12-26, a bonus point at least now seemed likely.
It was therefore very frustrating when a clear chance down the other wing was wasted when Day yet again attacked, created the opening but failed to make the necessary pass to Houghton in support and with a clear run ahead. In reality, a single try, no matter how good, was scant reward for thirty minutes spent in the opposition’s half.

When Ndlovu was yellow carded with ten minutes to go, it was clear that the game was effectively up. It marked an end to any hopes of a comeback, giving Park the encouragement they needed to take the game back to Manchester. Having escaped their half for their first venture of the second period into Manchester’s 22, a penalty was gratefully accepted to make the score 12-29 to kill the game with a few minutes to go.

Although it was certainly a better half for Manchester on the scoreboard (W 5-3!), the finish to the game and the finishing generally was very disappointing for the promise that this team has. It seems a matter of time before that promise is realised with a strong pack and exciting backs that are misfiring but nowhere near stalling. Although home advantage at the start of the season hasn’t worked the way that was hoped, there is every reason to look forward with anticipation to next week’s away trip to Manchester Medics.