The 2021-2022 was always going to be difficult in many respects following the abandoning of the 2019-2020 season and the cancelling of the entire 2020-2021 season. The season didn’t start as smoothly as hoped and it is great credit to all the players, coaches, team managers/administrators that the club managed to fulfil regular fixtures for three senior teams in what can be generally classed as a ‘satisfied’ season.

1st XV P26 W0, D1, L25 Pts for 168, Pts against 1639, Placed 14th, Pts -2.

Points scored an average of 7 per game, points conceded an average of 55 per game. Definitely a season to forget!

There are a number ways of reacting to these 1stXV figures. We can accept Benjamin Disraeli’s view that “there are three types of lies - lies, damned lies and statistics” and disbelieve them all. We can agree with Mark Twain who said “figures often beguile me”, or we can just disregard the statistics altogether.

Northwich returned to action at Birkenhead Park after a 536 day gap since their previous competitive match. And although Northwich crashed out of the Cup, overall it was a pleasing start with players stepping up from our 2nd team making a good impression together with the debutants.

With a new Director of Rugby and not yet at the half-way point in the season. Off the pitch there were changes in the coaching structure. Andy Roberts choose to step down and left the Club. Sam Naylor was named head coach.

Northwich began and ended the season suffering heavy defeats to promoted Preston Grasshoppers, and tellingly, in summing up the challenging season, the Northwich 1st XV only had 4 players in their final fixture who appeared in their opening season league match.

A few 1stXV stats of player appearances
• No of different players used = 45
• No of 1stXV debutants during season = 13
• Average No of ‘Home’ players in match day squad =13.1 (squad of 18)

(‘Home’ player is a product of the Club’s Youth Section and our last Colts team played in 2018/19.)

We now look forward to revisiting old friends across the north west of England as we move back into familiar surroundings following the RFU league restructure.

Northwich will remain at the same Level as last season as there was no relegations due to league restructuring.

The squad has had fantastic support at all the matches and long may that remain! Have an excellent summer and let’s look forward to next season.