NORTHWICH were overcome 36-12 by a well-drilled Vale of Lune on a grey day in Lancaster.
Blacks were optimistic in advance of the match, buoyed by the return of Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo and Harry Bennett.
However, an early injury to Jonathan Knipe meant a reshuffle in the back line and a disruption to the order of things.
The first 10 minutes were mainly spent with both sides looking for an advantage.
VoL enjoyed both territory and possession and broke the deadlock with a penalty kick when Blacks strayed offside.
Five minutes later, Northwich responded with a Tim Balogun try following excellent work from Juan Smit, Rory Leijdekkers and man-of-the-match Thansville Mayman, giving the visitors a five-point lead.
However, the lead was shortlived as a VoL lineout close to the Northwich line resulted in a driving maul and a subsequent try which was duly converted.
In the 35th minute a loose ball was collected by VoL and some excellent handling produced a second converted try for the home side, who turned round with a 17-5 lead.
Within five minutes of the restart, VoL extended their lead with an unconverted try produced after another attacking lineout and a well organised maul.
Ten minutes later the visitors responded positively with a well taken try from Jack Owens which was supplied by the hard work of Nathan Stafford.
Alex Speakman added the extras and gave the travelling faithful a glimmer of hope.
This hope was extinguished five minutes later when VoL scored arguably the best try of the afternoon involving some slick handling and a try between the posts for an easy conversion.
With the final whistle close, salt was rubbed into the wounds when yet another lineout delivered a fifth try for the home side and with the extras secured so was the result.
This was a match where individuals performed well but Northwich lacked the cohesion to overcome their opponents.
The coaching team will have been disappointed, that with such a dominant scrum more was not made of this advantage.
Nevertheless, there is plenty of reason to look forward with optimism in the knowledge improvements can and will be made.
Northwich, who slipped to seventh in Regional 2 North West, host bottom side Firwood Waterloo on Saturday.
