Sat 21 Feb 2026, 14:15
Today’s Match Report has been submitted by Callum Clutterbuck, a third-year sports journalism student at Liverpool John Moores University, wanting some work experience.
Northwich raced into a commanding start and looked comfortable early on, only for Sefton to mount an impressive comeback.
However, it would be the visitors who held on late to claim the win.
Northwich would be the side on the board first, with a period of sustained early pressure leading to a try.
Quick recycling from the breakdown saw their forwards stretch the defence, with their number eight powering over from close range.
The conversion was taken with confidence to make it 0–7.
Just three minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage.
A missed tackle in midfield allowed Northwich’s No.5 to exploit a gap and race through unopposed.
Another straightforward kick added the extras and the scoreboard read 0–14.
The home side looked to mounting an immediate reply, winning a scrum five metres from the line after a knock-on.
However, handling errors would extinguish any momentum as Northwich were able to recover possession.
Northwich capitalised on Sefton’s defensive frailties again on 21 minutes.
A couple of missed tackles around the fringes allowed the visitors to shift the ball wide and finish in the corner, the conversion stretching their lead to 0–21.
Just before the half hour mark, Sefton were finally on the board.
The hosts created an overload on the near side, as the inside centre fed the supporting winger, who finished well in the corner. 5–21.
From then on, there was a flurry of scores.
Sefton cut the lead to nine when a break from the winger split the defence, leaving him clear to score the try in the corner.
The made conversion from the corner put the score at 12-21.
Northwich answered immediately though.
A rapid counter from a turnover saw the ball shifted wide and finished with pace out wide, although the conversion was missed, the score was 12–26 at half-time.
The second half saw the hosts grow in confidence.
A brilliant individual run drew in defenders before quick recycling and phases close to the line allowed Goulding to crash over.
The conversion narrowly missed, leaving it 17–26.
Sefton answered with a spectacular try.
20 kicked it over the top of the defence’s heads and was able to track down the bouncing ball, kicking it on further and diving on top of it to score the try.
Albeit at the cost of a shoulder knock, the conversion was made to bring Sefton within two, 24–26.
With 20 minutes to go, the home side took the lead.
Banthorpe broke out of Sefton’s own half and carried the ball deep into opposition territory.
The supporting 19 rounded off a sweeping move to add five.
Another conversion gave Sefton a 31–26 advantage.
Northwich ground their way over for a try on 72 minutes after persistent phases inside the Sefton 22.
The conversion restored their lead at 31–33.
Despite many numerous lead changes, the hosts were ultimately unable to keep a hold of the lead and fell to a tight defeat.
Callum Clutterbuck
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