KNUTSFORD will host Whitchurch seconds on Saturday with the aim of returning to winning ways.

The Blues will go into the North West League Division Three South contest on the back of a 15-12 loss at Winnington Park thirds at the weekend.

One win in the last three was the record before travelling on an extremely windy but dry February afternoon.

Knutsford had at least five key players missing and despite the impressive efforts of the team that travelled a feeling of ‘what might have been’ was the emotion on the pitch when the final whistle blew.

Winnington were also missing a few, but fielded a pack full of experience and bulk and a backline of youth and guile which in the opening 15 minutes saw them score two quick tries.

Midway through the first half though, Knutsford started getting into their rhythm and the game changed.

Powerful running from Howard Dunkerley and Alex Hornby ably supported by the likes of Stefano Spinola, Ted Cawson and Steve Barlow, meant the phases built up and allowed for yard making runs in the backs to be made by Sam Cook, Jim Southall and Josh Duckworth who had an excellent game filling in at 13.

Knutsford's pressure told and Winnington Park's defence was flustered as centre Jim Southall went through a gap, riding two tackles after a well-timed pass from fly-half Cook to score the first of Knutsford's points.

The second half was Knutsford's and if it wasn’t for three points kicked after an offside penalty the spoils would have been shared.

Player coach Chris Edmonds came off the bench for the injured Jim Southall and straight into the action.

Solid scrum play from Kyle Blake saw him take the ball into contact, quick ball was recycled out to Dunkerley who picked a beautiful pass into the midfield to Cook who found Edmonds with a flat pass through a gap on the halfway line.

Edmonds ran the half pitch to glory after shrugging off tackle attempts from the recovering Winnington Park backline.