NORTHWICH missed out on a promotion play-off place by the narrowest of margins last season, finishing third in North One West for a second successive year.

However director of rugby Martin Poste is certain Blacks can improve, a belief that has persuaded him to sign a new three-year deal with the Moss Farm club.

They will do battle again with some familiar foes, as well as others they haven’t played at all previously.

However some games stand out already as a must-see for Northwich supporters.

Here are our top five picks from yesterday’s fixture release:

Northwich v Penrith

Saturday, November 24

A first league meeting between the teams will provide a gauge of their relative strength.

Penrith have been moved laterally by the RFU North’s committee after finishing fourth in North One East last season, seven points adrift of runners-up Driffield.

That is likely to make them formidable opponents, and the fact few that teams in North One West will know them could be an advantage in the campaign’s early stages.

Blacks are due at newcomers De La Salle, promoted from the North Lancs/Cumbria division as champions, seven days earlier making November a month of discovery.

Warrington v Northwich

Saturday, December 15

The neighbours have consistently served up thrilling encounters in the past two seasons, including last-minute wins for Northwich on each of their past two visits to Walton Lea.

On both occasions, Nick Baldwin held his nerve to convert a penalty that settled the outcome.

Martin Poste’s men became the first visitor to prevail at Warrington last year when they sneaked a 13-11 victory – a fourth win against Wire since they were promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire Division One in 2016.

The manner of those defeats will motivate Warrington this time around, although they’ll know in the back of their minds that Blacks always seem to find a way to beat them.

Northwich v Birkenhead Park

Saturday, January 5

Northwich finished four points behind Birkenhead Park the season before last, and the Wirral club was promoted after winning a play-off – coincidentally at Penrith’s expense.

However they were buoyed by beating Park twice during the run-in, including a stunning 36-10 victory in the Cheshire RFU Vase final.

That followed a 32-6 triumph in a league meeting at Moss Farm the previous month.

Birkenhead return to North One West after a single season at a higher level that saw them relegated after placing third-bottom.

They should be wary of the how difficult Stockport and Waterloo found it to adjust last term following their demotion, but will no doubt expect to challenge.

Northwich Guardian:

Chris Dale feels the full force of a Birkenhead tackle during Park's visit to Northwich for a North One West fixture in March 2017. Picture: Ken Houghton

Northwich v Stockport

Saturday, January 26

Stockport finished fifth last term, a huge 16 points behind Blacks.

They gave a glimpse of their strength when they visited town late last term, but were on the wrong end of a 28-24 score-line.

After a year spent acclimatising to the demands at this level they, like Waterloo, will harbour an ambition to be closer to the top of the table this time around.

January looks a particularly demanding month for Northwich, who also visit a Blackburn side that pummelled them into submission during last season’s corresponding fixture.

A decent haul of points from a testing run of fixtures could be crucial for Blacks.

Firwood Waterloo v Northwich

Saturday, March 2

A return to the scene of probably Blacks’ best collective performance last season – and arguably of Martin Poste’s tenure.

They were at their scintillating best during the first-half to leave their hosts, who had an outside chance before kick-off of challenging for a promotion play-off place, chasing shadows.

Meanwhile the second saw a more combative, resilient side to their game when they racked up four injuries – and used all their replacements – to leave them on the back-foot.

A gloriously opportunistic try by Richard Dale with time running out proved that being starved of possession hadn’t dimmed their sharpness at all.