Wilmslow Wolves kicked off the new season with a comfortable win in their first-round Cheshire Vase match.
They scored five tries, and with a bit more precision, could easily have added to their tally.
Incoming coach Brendan Thomas and new captain Mike Blackwill have left the Memorial Ground on Saturday knowing there is still a lot to do but comforted by a performance with more positives than negatives.
The Wolves line-up contained many of the players from last season, augmented by at least four graduates from Wilmslow High School and the club’s junior section.
Only former Manchester and Macclesfield centre, Richard Hughes, was completely new and he showed why he had been able to hold down his place in the higher National Leagues.
They were quickly into their stride as Bob MacCallum opened his account for the season on the quarter-hour with two successful penalties.
Penned back for most of the time, New Brighton could only hoof the ball out of defence when they got their hands on it.
From one not particularly well directed punt, Ollie McCall, took the ball to create havoc with a well judged kick ahead.
Quick ball enabled centre Craig Cooper to take an inside pass for an opening try under the posts.
Further infringements from New Brighton enabled MacCallum to set up yet another attacking position from which Danny Jones scored on the stroke of half-time.
The second half saw New Brighton briefly get into the game when they set up a good attacking position, ending with a Matthew Cook try and Luke Thompson conversion.
As the game entered its last quarter, the visitors seemed to run out of puff as Ed Armitage came inside to take a scoring pass.
Further chances went adrift but a sweeping move ended with Clifford crossing before Hughes obliged with the final score.
The season proper starts on Saturday as the Wolves entertain Anselmians.
