NORTHWICH will raise the curtain on a new season against opponents they met in the final game of the previous one.

Martin Poste’s men travel to Birkenhead Park, who they beat in thrilling circumstances to claim a fourth Cheshire RFU Vase, when North One West starts on Saturday, September 7.

Blacks finished fourth, one place below the Wirral club, last term.

READ > How Northwich won the Cheshire RFU Vase

Burnage are the first visitors to Moss Farm seven days later before Northwich conclude a testing opening month with trips to Wilmslow, who have been relegated from the level above, and promoted Altrincham Kersal.

October concludes with the first of two visits to Cumbria when they head north to Keswick.

A return journey up the M6, to Penrith, follows in November.

December brings with it a date on Isle of Man, the scene of one of their most epic victories last season when they resisted an onslaught in the gloom against Douglas.

Vale of Lune, champions two years ago but demoted after a single season in the North Premier, will be the last club to visit Moss Farm before the turn of the year.

A 14-strong section includes Bowdon, who followed Altrincham Kersal up from Lancs/Cheshire Division One after Aspatria pulled out of a promotion play-off late in April.

READ > Northwich fixtures in full for 2019-2020 season

Carlisle, champions last term, and Blackburn moved up to step five while De La Salle, Anselmians and Manchester were relegated.

A fixture list for the 2019-2020 season was published on Thursday following the completion of a review by officials from the Rugby Football Union of leagues in the north of England.

An email to clubs sent by Paul Leary, the RFU’s national competitions manager, last month signalled the end of process that started last summer.

Northwich players are scheduled to return for pre-season training in the first week of July.

Meanwhile the Cheshire RFU has confirmed that the opening round of its knockout competitions will retain a now-traditional position in the calendar of Bank Holiday weekend in August.

A deadline for entries passed yesterday, Thursday.