Saturday saw the first team kicking off from where they left off last season. It was clear that all 16 were up for it from the start and ready for the step up in to the new league. They were met with a solid and determined Broughton Park side however.

From the start it was a tense affair with some big hits flying in from both sides. Chapel kept the ball in hand and kept driving it forwards in to the Broughton defence before the local Jeremy Clarkson lookalike Dan Martin bounced the ball over the line.

It was a day with plenty of scrum practice as both teams looked as if they had been made up solely of Bob Moores – the resident slippery handed prop. Chapel stood up well to the Broughton Park Pack – with the new look front line proving solid. The scrums were so evenly matched however, that even giving the other team an inch would prove costly. The Chapel boys held tight, dug deep and soon realised what they needed to do.

After steadying the scrums and fiercely contesting the line outs – Chapel began to take control of the game with Jack Cottam crashing the ball over the line in a well worked try.

The backs then continue to pile on the pressure with some well worked moves. There were a few strays balls however, that failed to release Chapel’s new, pacey summer signing. It must also be noted that return of club favourite Andy Fife seemed to be steadying the ship at 10 - great to see him returning to the side.

Apart from the ‘NFL-esk’ passes the Chapel backs looked dangerous in attack and there is certainly something to build on there – with the two Lightfoots surprisingly working well together for once – so much so that Ali managed to touch down for Chapel’s 3rd try in the corner. This was followed by an Andy Davies conversion who kept the score board ticking along nicely. Or did he?

Half time saw the Chapel boys were focused and ready to go again. The preseason fitness showing at this point as even Dan Martin wasn’t blowing.
The second half was a much more dogged affair as the wet conditions and the summer cobwebs meant there were a lot of drop balls and ill-discipline from both sides.

The Broughton boys continued to fight and Chapel absorbed a lot of this pressure with strong tackling. After regaining the ball the Chapel forwards managed to tie in the opposition defence in the corner after some well worked crash balls. Eventually the ball came free and was shipped out to the backs – where there was a certain (normally slippery handed) prop who managed to get his hands on it to score his annual try.

The Chapel boys continued to fight for the win and held their line well where they could. The Broughton boys however, pinned them back in the corner for a line out. The ball was fired in and secured for a maul – where they used their size and weight to drive the ball over.

Chapel then went on the attack to take it back to Broughton. They managed to finally release their new pacey winger Keelan Sherwani – who showed a natural flair and ability to dodge the defence and take it casually over the line.

All in all this was a positive start for the boys, some little mistakes here and there but a sign of good things to come. With Broughton Park finishing 7th last season – Holmes Chapel have proved that they certainly have what it takes, and more, to compete in this league.

Final Score: 31 – 7 to Holmes Chapel. We would like to thank the Broughton Park boys for their efforts and playing the game in the true spirit.