WEST Park scored 24 points without reply in the second half to come within a whisker of victory at Manchester Medics on Saturday.

Park trailed 33-7 at the interval but their valiant fightback, before falling 33-31, was rewarded with two bonus points.

The scoring was opened by the visitors within 10 minutes.

Playing up a slight slope and narrow pitch, Josh Ainsworth finished a good move between the posts.

Winger Warren Hunt converted.

As the game moved on, ragged play and poor tackling by Park gifted the opposition enough ball to create several scoring chances which they duly converted into points.

An initial pushover try was followed by four further tries as Park appeared to be in total disarray.

Playing down the slope in the second half, and with greater resolve and patience, West Park began to build momentum.

Tries from lively flanker Lewis Whitty and the elusive winger Chris Fortune put them in sight of at least a bonus point.

Park were now playing with renewed belief and determination, none better than man-of-the-match prop forward Martin Kimberley.

An excellent break by captain and second row forward Rob Morley found hooker Tom Williams in support and he galloped over for a try that gave the visitors their hard-earned bonus point.

Hunt’s conversion resulted in only a seven-point gap. With only minutes to go number eight Matt Potter picked up from the base of a scrum and fed winger Warren Hunt, who crossed wide out.

A difficult conversion was narrowly missed by Hunt and time ran out for the visitors, whose second-half performance had been exemplary and perhaps worthy of greater reward.

Park welcome Northwich to Red Rocks on Saturday at an earlier kick off of 2.15pm.