CREWE and Nantwich started the new year and the second half of the season with a resounding 46-3 victory over Southport.

The visitors battled well for half the game, but Crewe's superior fitness was telling after the break and they were able to assume a virtual monopoly on possession, running in a total of seven tries.

The win keeps them in touch with the leaders in the Euromanx South Lancs and Cheshire League Division Two, and the club will be hoping to push on from a solid start to the season to mount a real challenge for promotion.

Saturday saw Crewe enjoy the luxury of selecting arguably their strongest side, with the three Potts brothers, vice-captain Andreas Reckewerth and centre Lee Gray all returning from injury after the Christmas break.

Lee Gray opened the scoring early on, driving through the centre to score a fine try, and was then very much involved in splitting the Southport defence to allow Reckewerth to crash over.

With both tries being converted by Mathew Farr, the early 14 point lead pumped the home side full of confidence.

Will Potts then finished off a move involving half a dozen players, and only a lone Southport penalty looked like keeping the visitors in touch.

But Crewe kept piling on the pressure in the second half, centre Danny Lynch scoring a hat-trick of tries and coach Farr finishing off with a try himself. Crewe's young full-back, Tom Maguire, also did his confidence no harm as he landed two conversion kicks and a penalty goal.

Crewe's other three sides gave the club a real day to celebrate by all recording victories.

The 2nds defeated Macclesfield 4ths by 24-5, the 3rds came away from the derby with Sandbach 25-5 winners, and the 4ths won 50-7 at Limley.

Crewe and Nantwich play next at home to St Edward's Old Boys on Saturday, a league game rearranged from November (2.30pm).