WILMSLOW kicked off the new season with a valuable win at Bowdon.
The Wolves celebrated the arrival of a clutch of new players with a convincing win against a side that beat them twice in a higher league last term.
Both teams have lost players in summer, but the new-look Wolves came out on top with a commanding performance by the pack.
Tries by flanker Rich Williams and returning lock Mike Clifford did the damage for Wilmlsow. Fly-half Bob MacCallum added two penalties to seal a 16-0 victory.
The only cloud on the horizon was the late withdrawal from the first XV last week of skipper and influential centre Steve Braddock [pictured right]. A hamstring twinge saw ‘Kiwi’ sidelined at the 11th hour, but he’s back in contention for Saturday’s first home game against Wigan at Pownall Park.
Braddock said: "It’s good to get off to a winning start. On paper it appears Bowdon away would be one of our tougher matches, but we’ll face better sides this season and we cannot take anything for granted."
Braddock’s new-look side includes Mark Wood at hooker, Matt Felipo at prop, Clifford in the second row, and the powerful Ross Mitchell at No.8, who turned in a man-of-the-match performance.
"A winning start is what we wanted," added Braddock. "With so many players fighting for places, it’s a pleasant headache to have. But above all, we must not get ahead of ourselves. There is a long way to go and we have many tougher games to come."
In a rare hat-trick, all three senior Wilmslow sides won without a point being scored against them. The second XV chalked up a handsome 71 points against New Brighton, with four tries apiece for Ben Day and Charlie Mulchrone.
The thirds beat Sandbach fourth XV 51-0.
