Oxton Parkonians 31 Knutsford 17

KNUTSFORD’S season ended with a defeat on Saturday, when they narrowly missed out on a bonus point.

Blues, who have continued to improve in recent weeks, played expansive rugby early on but were unable to turn their possession into points.

The hosts’ superior size and power brought them gradually back into the game, and eventually told when they crossed in the corner after what the visitors felt was a forward pass.

Knutsford’s forwards worked hard to get back into the game, but Parkonians extended their lead with a converted try.

But Blues, camped in the opposition 22, found a breakthrough before the interval when prop Chiko Mwale crashed over.

Spurred on by coach Geoff Crawford’s half time team talk, the away team began the second half as they had ended the first.

However, their good work was undone from what they felt was another forward pass in the build-up to a third Parkonians try.

Two more scores followed for the hosts as they opened up a 31-5 lead while Knutsford tried to regroup.

A burst by Frazer Crawford put Blues in a promising position from which Mwale adding his second score of the game.

Alex Malcolm converted to reduce the arrears to 31-12.

With renewed momentum, Knutsford pressure was rewarded again when Howard Dunkerley crashed over for an unconverted try.

The visitors chased a bonus point score in the final seconds, but Parkonians held on.