A SERIOUS injury sustained by the opposition’s hooker provided a backdrop to promoted Northwich seconds making a losing start to life at a higher level.

The Sedgley Park man was transported to hospital by an air ambulance after a scrum collapsed shortly before the break with their hosts leading 10-5 in a North West Intermediate League encounter.

Antony Keller kicked a penalty in response to the visitors’ early try out wide.

He then cut between the Tigers’ centres before dotting down between the posts, and duly converted his own try.

A man down at the start of the second period with Callum Hulbert in the sin bin as punishment for his part in the before half-time, Northwich lost control of the contest.

Sedgley Park dominated, and scored 24 unanswered points.

Mike Penny’s men suffered a further blow when their full-back Stephen Connor suffered a suspected broken jaw.

Northwich thirds promoted Billy Cole, Oli Sorensen and Matt Watson from last season’s colts side for a meeting with Lymm’s fourths in Division Four South.

They recovered from a slow start, when they conceded two unconverted tries in quick succession, when vice-captain Tom Boardman off-loaded to Watson.

He was denied a certain score by a high tackle, and Blacks were on the board with a penalty try.

They continued to apply pressure, and Liam Gough kicked a penalty to restore parity.

Boardman then added a fine solo score before a second three-pointer from Gough made it 18-10 at the interval.

However the Warrington outfit dominated afterwards, totting up 34 points without reply as Blacks crumbled.