NORTHWICH will play in the same section as neighbours Winnington Park next season for the first time in five years.

Blacks, relegated from Midlands One West after winning only five matches last term, have been transferred back to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Northern Division.

There they will take one of 14 places in South Lancashire & Cheshire Division One, in which Park finished eighth during the previous campaign.

The fixture list, released this week, includes a first derby on Saturday, November 2 at Burrows Hill, the scene of the teams’ previous league meeting – in then North Two West – back in March 2008.

Northwich ran out 16-6 victors that day.

The clubs’ second head-to-head is scheduled for Saturday, March 1.

Northwich, to be captained by scrum half Gareth Davies next season with Sam Naylor again adopting a player coach role, will travel to Hoylake on the season’s opening afternoon on Saturday, September 7.

Glossop are their guests seven days later.

Bowdon and Orrell were relegated from South Lancashire & Cheshire Division One with Sefton and Douglas promoted in their place as Division Two champions and runners-up respectively.

Warrington and Broughton Park were promoted to North One West, with Anselmians and Manchester dropping down a level.

Northwich take the place of Cheshire neighbours Crewe & Nantwich, who move sideways to the Midlands Division’s Two West North.

SSE Northern Division
South Lancashire & Cheshire Division One
Season 2013-2014
Anselmians (relegated from North One West); Ashton on Mersey; Douglas (promoted from Division Two); Glossop; Hoylake; Manchester (relegated from North One West); New Brighton; Northwich (relegated from Midlands One West); Ruskin Park; Sefton (promoted from Division Two); Tyldesley; West Park; Wigan; Winnington Park

To see Northwich's fixture list in full for next season, click here: http://bit.ly/1667jb5