DESPITE a spirited performance yielding five tries against quality opposition, West Park were pipped at the post by a Wilmslow side that with this win edged them nearer to the top of the league.

The home side scored a try more than the opposition but a large penalty count against them eventually proved their undoing in the 33-29 home defeat.

Once again Park were caught napping within minutes of the start of the game, and a routine pick up at the base of the scrum by the visitors No 8 Taylor went unchallenged, allowing him to feed his fellow flanker Harvey who crossed unopposed for a try which fly half MacCallum converted to give the visitors an early lead.

Throughout the match the lead changed hands on several occasions, and a quick tap penalty by an alert Danny Green brought him a fine try which though unconverted was swiftly followed by another from flanker Patrick Loughnane, magnificently converted by winger Warren Hunt from the touch line to put the home side into the lead.

Wilmslow were extremely well favoured in the penalty count throughout the match, posting three scores from penalties before half time, but Park continued to play controlled and aggressive rugby bringing Loughnane his second try after slick inter-passing between flanker Lewis Harris and prop forward Ryan O’Hare.

Leading by a point as half time approached the home side increased their lead with a fourth try, winger Josh Ainsworth finishing off in style after excellent approach work by full back John Pape and winger Hunt, the latter converting the try, taking the score to 22 points to 16 points at the interval.

The visitors began to exert more pressure in the second half especially in the pack, and despite the tremendous efforts of Park’s back row trio, an unfortunate yellow card at the ruck reduced the home side to 14 men, an advantage the visitors soon capitalised upon to score a push over try, which was not converted but left them only one point from the lead.

West Park proved resilient and equal to the task of containing the opposition despite being a man down, and scored a fifth try as skipper Matt Cozens picked up the ball in broken play to cross for a try which fly half Lee Rosney converted.

Despite valiant defensive efforts Wilmslow’s superior numbers again proved advantageous, scoring a further try from a catch and drive close to the line, the added extras leaving Park with a slender three point lead.

As the game drew to a close Park were further penalised by a second, and contentious yellow card for an alleged illegal tackle, and were eventually made to pay as the visitors switched the ball at speed to engineer another try against 14 men, MacCallum converting to give them the game and maximum points.

West Park’s performance against a top side yielded them two well earned and vital league points, and a similar show of strength and determination on Saturday at Northwich should give them greater self belief serve and them well in what will undoubtedly be another difficult fixture.

NEWTON had a poor start to 2017, they never got into their stride against a strong Bedians outfit.

Newton did have moments when it looked like they where coming together but they didn’t last, Bedians looked every inch a side who sit third in the league.

Newton’s only points in the 37-5 home defeat came from a well take try from Damian Whitter.