IT WAS not a good start to the new rugby union league season for Caldy as they fell to a 0-36 reverse at Sedgley Park.

The Lancashire side registered five unanswered tries. They also added four of the conversions and a penalty for good measure.

Caldy enjoyed plenty of possession especially in the first-half but simply could not break down a solid home rearguard.

They will be looking for improvement when they entertain Cheshire rivals Chester this Saturday.

Chester who won promotion last season began life in the division with a hard fought 24-13 win over Birmingham Solihull.

Wirral went to town against visiting Kendal in North One to record a 73-15 victory whilst Birkenhead Park took a close encounter against Warrington 36-30.

There was never much between the sides at the Upper Park but just when it seemed the Lancashire outfit would prevail Greg Hughes scored a try from the last Birkenhead move with Dave Hall converting for good measure.

Gavin Scott and Stu Brown were others to go in for Park and Hall additionally hit five penalties and another goal.

Wirral after a bright start against Kendal were pegged back to 14-15 by the relegated side but then settled again to take complete control. They registered eleven tries in all with a hat-trick for Ali Baker.

Rob Pearl, James Annetts and Matt Loon had two each with singles via James Postlethwaite and Keith Mahon. Dan and Craig Harvey shared the kicking duties to take the points tally to 73.

New Brighton took the South Lancashire/Cheshire One derby against Anselmians but it was close at 27-22.

Hoylake opened with a 18-5 success over Northwich at Melrose Avenue.

The two local sides in Division Two both lost. Wallasey finished 7-27 at Marple and Port Sunlight were on the wrong side of a 24-28 finish against Isle of Man outfit Vagabonds.

Prenton whipped Helsby 71-13 away from home in Division Three.

There were also good wins for Oldershaw 44-3 at home to Capenhurst, Oxton Parkonians 27-14 at Knutsford and Ellesmere Port 25-20 against visiting Trantham.

Andy Smith, Dan Blythe, Craig Whelan and Paul Lennon crossed for Parkonians. Terry Williams added two conversions and a penalty and Ben Sadler one conversion.

Fixtures for this Saturday as the new season takes shape include: National Two North:- Caldy v Chester.

North One West:- Kirby Lonsdale v Wirral; Carlisle v Birkenhead Park.

South Lancashire/Cheshire One:- Anselmians v Wigan; Manchester v New Brighton; Ruskin Park v Hoylake. Div.Two:- Southport v Port Sunlight; Wallasey v Collegiate. Div.Three:- Capenhurst v Ellesmere Port; Oxton Parkonians v Linley; Prenton v Holmes Chapel. There is no fixture listed for Oldershaw.

Meanwhile the Annual General Finance Meeting of the Cheshire RFU will take place at Chester on September 19, at 6.30pm.

Honorary Treasurer Bryan Davies reports a very small loss of just over £200 but the County finances remain healthy with assets in excess of £130k.