KNUTSFORD returned to winning ways 29-24 at home to Capenhurst.

They approached this game somewhat differently to the previous games this season, more than likely due to the reframing of attitudes from the previous week's defeat at Birkenhead which slipped from their firm first-half grasp.

Focused, disciplined and clinical were some of the adjectives used by the large supporting crowd and Capenhurst, a team who had comfortably beaten the Blues last time out, were rocked as Knutsford started on the front foot.

Giles Robertson and Dom Anglin found their form early on, ferociously defending a strong attacking Capenhurst pack running tight at the breakdown, while Howard Dunkerly and Kyle Blake made strong gains in what became a nine-phase opening give minutes from the onrushing Knutsford pack.

Resolute defending from both sides was to be the theme of the game though as tries had to be hard earned.

First blood went to Capenhurst after retaining the ball and powering over from a quickly taken penalty while the Blues' backs were turned – a schoolboy error pointed out by player-coach Chris Edmonds.

Knutsford responded though from a well worked set-piece lineout, an area in which joint man of the match Jack Field was dominant.

Captain Sam Bensky hit the gain line with a strong angled run, the supporting Jim Southall rode two tackles and just before being dragged down 10 metres short he offloaded to joint man of the match Marques who dotted down to level the scores with Alex Malcolm adding the extras.

Knutsford turned the screw, striking again quickly with a smart move in the backs following a solid forward scrum on the opposition 22.

Blake, at number eight, started the move and then some deceptive running lines in the backs allowed fly-half Cook to find full-back Malcolm running into space and he went through to give Knutsford the lead.

Capenhurst never lie down though and crossed again via the forwards after sustained pressure.

The scores were tied at half time but Knutsford reminded themselves of the previous week and they re-focused, determined to ensure the best side won the day.

They got on the front foot immediately, with Clempner and Spinola retaining the ball strongly and this created the platform for Knutsford's next score.

From a ruck in the corner the ball squeezed out unexpectedly. Cook was nearest, grabbed it and dotted down.

Much of the same pattern followed, Capenhurst having most of the ball, phasing it strongly but Knutsford's defence holding strong from some heroic tackling in particular by Liam Boyle and Giles Robertson.

Another strong lineout from the home side saw a maul develop 10 metres out and Kyle Blake saw his opportunity, deftly stepping the first defender and despite being tackled by two players, managed to stretch and place the ball down to give Knutsford a buffer they needed.

Classic Knutsford as they conceded again though.

Despite some incredible defence too many penalties for needless offsides or hands in the ruck led to Capenhurst scoring after Knutsford's defence tired.

The victory would be Knutsford's though and it was to be a captain's try that won it.

Bensky had been running strong lines all day and in the last five minutes Knutsford were again camped on the Capenhurst 22 when Southall at 12 made yards, Blake took it in, Spinola retained it and even the backs were rucking to retain posession.

Capenurst were tiring, gaps started to appear and Bensky spotted this, coming out of his channel from deep he signalled to Marques, the ball was rucked well, set nicely and Marques leveraged this platform to pop up the ball to Bensky at speed and nothing was stopping him.