Helsby 58-17 Northwich 2nd

NORTHWICH seconds suffered another heavy defeat on their travels, this one latest inflicted by in-form hosts hoping to be promoted.

Blacks defended resolutely but they struggled to contain forwards who off-loaded cleverly to teammates in support.

The visitors had started promisingly when Harry Naylor’s penalty-kick, blown back towards him by a strong wind, was collected by stand-off Richard Hart who crashed over the line.

Naylor’s conversation attempt was successful.

Helsby regrouped effectively and replied with several tries of their own to establish a healthy interval lead.

The visitors had to reshuffle their line-up when they sustained injuries but improved their points total when Naylor darted away from a ruck on the blind-side and jinked a route to the whitewash.

Northwich created opportunities to score early in the second-half but their attacks faltered at the final pass.

Helsby kept the scoreboard ticking over as they turned pressure into points up front before the away side replied when youngster Ruairi Long dotted down out wide at the end of a flowing move.

Naylor’s kick struck an upright.

Northwich thirds registered a first victory in 2019 when they saw off Congleton’s seconds by 27-15 at Moss Farm.

It leaves them fifth in Division Four South ahead of a trip to Oswestry seconds this weekend.