After last week's defeat at home to Rochdale 'Park needed to get their season back on track. The conditions were good with a slight breeze which 'Park played into in the first half.

The scrummages looked ominous for Northwich because from the beginning of the game they were going backwards at a rate of knots. They had a hard afternoon in prospect. 13 minutes into the game 'Park had a scrum on Northwich's 5 metre line, and the ball was fed out to stand in out-half Pete Oakes, who managed to pick the pass up off his toes, to feed centre Steve Newton who jinked his way over to score under the posts. Pete Oakes, top kicker in League North 2 West in 03/04, standing in for the injured Steve O'Connor, converted to make the core 0 - 7.

'Park were doing most of the pressing and two minutes later a good passing movement saw winger Joe Wykes tackled into touch just short of the line.

On 20 minutes 'Park were awarded a penalty just outside the Northwich 22 which 'golden boot' Pete Oakes slotted with consummate ease. With Pete Oakes in such good kicking form, Northwich knew that giving away any penalty in their own half would give away points, and two minutes later they offended just inside their own half and Oakes duly made them pay. 0 - 13 after 23 mins.

With the 'Park pack dominant and Pete Oakes making good ground with his tactical kicking Northwich struggled to get out of their own half but kept 'Park at bay until 2 minute before half-time when they infringed again and Pete Oakes was on hand to get the three points. 0 - 16 after 38 mins. Northwich did manage to break out and were given a penalty just inside 'Park's 22 but this was missed, and the scored remained at 0 - 16 at half-time.

After 5mins of the 2nd half Northwich had a scrum on their own 5 metre line but 'Park pushed them off the ball and 'Park No. 8 John Clifford picked up at the base of the scrum and forced his way over for a try just in from the 5 metre line. A scrappy kick from Pete Oakes nevertheless still went over to convert, making the score 0 - 23. Even when he kicks badly they go over!

Northwich were awarded a penalty on one of their rare trips to the 'Park half but this was missed again.

After 65 mins play a driven maul close to the Northwich line saw prop Steve Nicholas go down with a neck injury which needed hospital treatment. The game was stopped for 30 mins while Steve was kept still and the ambulance arrived to take him to hospital. He could move his arms and legs so we hope that he will be all right. The game was stopped and the result of 0 - 23 will stand as a win for 'Park.

Rochdale beat Leigh so 'Park are back to 2nd, 2 points behind Rochdale. 'Park have to hope that Rochdale drop points (unlikely) or aim to finish 2nd and get promotion through the play off.