CREWE & Nantwich opened the league season with a hard fought win against Anselmians mirroring last years narrow victories.

The forwards were evenly matched with Crewe perhaps just having the edge and making the fewest number of errors but the Wirral sides three-quarters showed a little more enterprise and thus the teams tended to cancel each other out.

The almost continuous rain didn't help matters but overshadowing everything was the half-an-hour break in play when the players left the field to await the arrival of an ambulance called when the Anselmians prop forward broke his leg and it was felt wise to leave the unfortunate player where he lay. Both sides were far from whole hearted after the restart.

It was only 5 minutes into the game when full back James Brewerton landed the first of his penalties quickly matched by one from the visitors. The Crewe forwards forced the opposition into all sorts of errors and Brewerton punished them with two further cleanly struck kicks.

However, luck favoured the home side when the Anselmians centre broke clean through with the line at his mercy but Crewe's winger Keith Raftery just managed to nudge him and the slippery ball spilled forwards for a knock-on. Crewe in turn knocked-on just before the half-time whistle when it seemed simpler to score.

Hardly had the game restarted when the accident occurred and although both sides in turn missed relative easy penalty attempts in the now by heavy rain the final whistle came not a moment too soon.

All the Crewe sides at home recorded wins with the 3rds defeating Anselmian 3rds by 19pts to 8 and the Vets defeating Chester Vets 11-9. The 2nds and 4ths at Anselmians went down 18-5 and 25-5 respectively.

Next Saturday sees Crewe involved in the NPI Cup competition which covers the intermediate clubs of the RFU a step-up for Crewe from the Junior Cup. However, Crewe have had the worst of draws having to play at Caldy who have achieved promotion two seasons in succession and now are in North West Division 1 league, three above Crewe in status. The 2nds and 4ths are away at Northwich with only the 3rds at home to Northwich. The Vets side play at Trentham.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.