NORTHWICH RUFC had a difficult afternoon at Kendal on Saturday but did not leave empty-handed.

Blacks went down to a 47-20 defeat in Cumbria as a period either side of half time when they played with just 12 men proved pivotal.

Logan Mitchell had scored the visitors’ opening try as he capitalised on a fumble to touch down and level the scores at 5-5 but when the score had moved onto 15-5 in the hosts’ favour thanks to a penalty and a converted try, he was shown a red card for a high shoulder tackle.

This was followed by two yellow cards for deliberate knock-ons and in the time Northwich were vastly reduced in number, the hosts were ruthless.

Three converted tries were scored to take the score to 32-5 to put the outcome of the game beyond doubt but once Blacks were back to 14 men, they showed a fighting spirit to give their travelling supporters something to cheer.

Two tries in quick succession followed to raise hopes of a four-try bonus point – Taylor Hough sent a long pass for Tom Husbands to touch down before skipper Rory Leijdekkers drove over the line to take the score to 32-15.

The home side were not finished and managed to score a further two tries and a penalty to put an exclamation point on their win, but Northwich still held out hopes of collecting a consolation point.

They threw everything at their hosts to secure it and were rewarded when Haugh gathered a loose ball and ran the length of the pitch to score.

Blacks are back on home soil this weekend when they welcome Penrith to Moss Farm, kick off 3pm.

Northwich: Taylor Haugh; Tom Husband, Boitumelo Tsatsane, Logan Mitchell, Jack Qwen; Liam Batt, Austin Fernandez; Gabriel Sipapate, Eon Du Preez, Rory Leijdekkers, Patrick Douglas, Sam Patterson, Aaron Collins, Jack England, Anthony Keller. Subs: Elliot Kelsall, Callum Hulbert, Eli Brizendine