This was not a pretty or a dominant affair but it was a solid, winning start to the season.
Blackpool were missing a few names going into this fixture, most notably in the forwards, where Mick Harrison was forced to play at prop, a position he is not familiar with and club captain Russell Woodward filling the space left by the unavailability of Stuart Charnock in the second row.
Blackpool started in the ascendance, attacking their opponents from the word go. Preston defended astutely and cleared their lines well in the opening stages.
It wasn't long though before Pool found their breakthrough and considering the pace the likes of Tom Sanderson, Wayne Lamb and Dale Boner have in the backs, it came from the most unlikely of sources.
After good collection at a line-out ten metres out, the pack got on a roll and took their opponents over the whitewash with Pete Ward emerging as the tryscorer. The conversion was missed but Pool's season had lift off.
The game continued at a fractious pace, with Pool perhaps getting a little over excited at times when getting the ball. After a few missed opportunities, they added to their early score when Lamb beat the defence to score his first try for the club.
Usually this would be the catalyst for a walkover but Preston had other ideas and game back with a bang. After a spell of sustained pressure, they finally breached Blackpool's brave but disoriented defence and scored a pushover try.
The hosts were shell shocked but took action and just before half time Lamb crossed for his second try of the match to give Pool a flattering 15-5 lead at half time.
Coach Routliff read the riot act in the half time talks and demanded his team up the work rate. What followed was a highly competitive second half which saw Blackpool mount plenty of attacking pressure. Preston continued to be tough in the loose and both teams did their best to spoil the opposition ball when it was on the floor.
For all the pressure though there was to be only one more score coming from the jinking Gaz Woodall.
He found a gap in the tired Preston defence to score by the posts and put the finishing touches to a hard fought win.
There were good displays from Lamb on his debut, Woodall kept probing and Olly Ashton carried the ball well. The referees Man of the Match was Brad Harker. I think he liked his hair do. Richard of the Week was awarded to Wayne Lamb for a shocking performance with the yard of ale after the game given to him to mark his first game for the club.
Next up for Pool is their old rivals Fleetwood which is guaranteed to be a tough fixture.