North 2 West, 8th March 2008

Winnington Park 3 v 19 Broughton Park

Broughton Park started brightly against the wind retaining the ball and putting Winnington under pressure for the first ten minutes. However, Winnington defended as though their league lives depended on it as their next to bottom position in the league showed. For all the pressure Broughton Park could not penetrate the Winnington defence.

Handling errors started to creep in and Winnington got hold of the ball and sent the ball deep into the Broughton half on the strong wind. Broughton were unable to get out of their own half as Winnington retained the ball and on 30 minutes turned this pressure into points with a penalty. 3 - 0 after 30 minutes.

With 5 minutes to go to half-time Broughton did progress into the Winnington half. They had a series of driven rucks and mauls towards the Winnington line and eventually wing forward Dave Hanby powered his way over for a try in the corner. 3 - 5. Ronan O'Brien continued his immaculate kicking form with a conversion against the wind from the touchline. 3 - 7 at half-time.

Broughton had the wind in the 2nd half and after constant pressure with driven mauls in the right hand corner the ball was fed out to Pete MacMahon who averted the near hospital pass with a deft flick on to Tom Mapp who scored in the corner. Ronan narrowly missed with the conversion to make the score 3 - 12.

Winnington held out almost constant Broughton pressure until the final minute of the game when Broughton had a penalty near the line which Ronan O'Brien took with a quick tap and shimmied his way over for a try under the posts which he also converted. 3 - 19 at full time.

With the news that Stockport had lost, Broughton Park are now two points behind a promotion play off place with a game in hand. The very important game in hand is next week against 'Park's bogey team Leigh who they have not beaten since 2001. A big big game.