NORTHWICH RUFC were under no illusion about the size of the task the visit to Blackburn would present in the opening game of the new season.

They fell 62-15 in the Regional 1 North West encounter.

Blacks were fielding 11 new players since the last time the two sides met.

By contrast the home side had only three different squad members.

Throughout the match this factor was evident as Northwich struggled to gain any cohesion while Blackburn had a clear game plan and the ability to execute it.

From the kick-off Northwich tried to carry the ball out of the 22.

However, a handling error passed the initiative to Blackburn.

From a close lineout the home side created a maul that the visitors were unable to stop. 

The try was converted and after only three minutes Northwich were seven points down. 

Things went from bad to worse when the restart failed to go 10 metres and enabled the home side to launch a good attack which ended with an unconverted try, and soon after a third one for a 19-point deficit.

With 20 minutes gone there was finally something for the visitors to cheer about.

Following a solid scrum, Blacks went on the attack and with some excellent handling and a fine offload Haugh went in for a fine try.  The extras were missed but there was a glimmer of hope.

However, any hope was shortlived as the home side stole a lineout, went on the attack and scored an unconverted try.

As the half drew to a close the visitors won a scrum against the head and set up a good attack and an offload by England to Leijdekkers allowed the visitors to double their tally. 

With the half almost at a close Northwich spilled the ball and the home side took full advantage to go into the break with a 29-10 cushion.

The second half began as the first. Too many errors kept giving the home side the initiative and the next 30 minutes belonged to Blackburn as they added four tries.

Nevertheless, the Blacks spirit was high and in the 80th minute they were rewarded with a try from Tom Husbands following a neat wrap-around in the midfield and a long pass for the score.

A try for the home side deep in stoppage time rounded off a good Blackburn performance and an education for Blacks. 

Despite this setback there were good performances from new signings, in particular Logan Mitchell and man-of-the-match Taylor Haugh.

The forwards provided a solid platform in the scrum and there was bags of invention, providing encouragement for the future.

The coaching team will no doubt be looking at a number of areas knowing there will be massive improvement in the coming weeks.

Northwich entertain Anselmians in their first home match of the season on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.  

Northwich (15-1): Taylor Haugh, Tom Husbands, Jack Qwen, Logan Mitchell, Eli Brizendine, Liam Batt, Richard Hart, Gabriel Sipapate, Rory Leijdekkers, Callum Hulbert, Patrick Douglas, Sam Patterson, Aaron Collins, Richard Dale, Jack England. Replacements: Adam Ollier, Eon Du Preez, Stephen Christian