This Saturday we entertain Northwich for the first game in a new League season in a new venue.
Welcome to Rivacre Road, home to Vauxhall Motors football XI, and, for the 2018-19 rugby season, a home to Anselmians.
Last Saturday, in the increasingly irrelevant Cheshire Vase competition, Saints had chastening wake-up call. We lost to a well-organised and strong side, 38-12. This, however, is the real thing. Warm-up matches against Mold and last week at Northwich are no realistic preparation for the intensity of League rugby.
In the 2015-16 season, Northwich were South Lancashire/Cheshire 1 champions. We lost 7-34 at Northwich and also lost the return match at Eastham, 32-42. The previous season, 2014-15, we lost at Moss Farm, 9-40, in September 2014, but won at Malone Field 46-21 the following April.
In our only encounter in North One West, back in 2011-12 season, we lost on the first day of the season away 15-38, but won the final fixture of that campaign at home, 28-5.
Anselmians are under no illusions about the task that confronts them. This is a highly competitive league and we will be tested every week. Let us hope “home” advantage and the fact that we were unbeaten at Malone Field all last season inspires us to a successful start to this adventure in North One West.