Reds put last season blues in past
Whitchurch made a winning start to their North 2 West campaign as they came from behind to beat Broughton Park 19-14 at Edgeley Park.
The Reds had got used to the losing feeling after a disastrous season in North 1 last year that ended in inevitable relegation.
But they have gone some way to steadying the ship with this performance.
"We were very pleased with the outcome," said club president John Gregory. "It was nice to get off to a good start to the season with a win, especially after last season.
"The defence was superb and centre Jimmy Mullock was the pick."
Broughton Park had taken a 26th minute lead with a converted try but the north Shropshire side hit back quickly.
The gap was reduced when hooker Kevin Barber got the final touch off a forward drive from a lineout. And they were ahead a minute before the break when scrum-half Chris Hares broke through the 22 and fed the ball out to Richard Oakes to score.
The conversion was kicked by debutant No 10 Chris Hilliker, who has joined the team from the RAF.
He was one of two new faces in the line-up, the other being Neil Batkin at No 6 - a former junior at the club who hails from Prees.
The second half was a tight affair but Whitchurch extended their lead six minutes from time with a try from Tom Pemberton, converted by Hilliker.
Broughton Park reduced the deficit in the 79th minute of normal time but the hosts held on through seven minutes of injury-time to take the points.
Oswestry are still looking for their first points in South Lancs/Cheshire 2 after going down 31-12 in their second game of the season at Ruskin Park.
The Eagles have got to this level after coming up as champions of the third division last season.
Luctonians paid the penalty for three basic mistakes in the first half when they went down 30-13 in their opening Midlands 1 match against Scunthorpe.
"Scunthorpe are too good a side to do that and hope to get away with it," said Lucs spokesman Robin East.
"We gave as good as we got in the second half but the team cannot be judged on one game.
"In the second half we had a lot more of play with our three quarters creating chances."
Hereford went down 32-14 at Silhillians in their first game of the Midlands 3 West (South) campaign.
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