ON Thursday night Northwich expected to name their strongest team of the season, but by Saturday morning their hopes were dashed.
Yet there was still no explanation for another tale of woe.
Northwich were able to field former England colt Chris Dale and ex-North of England Under 19 player Chris James, who has returned from Australia and brought with him a very exciting and explosive centre in the form of Kolo Fifita, an Australian of Tongan descent.
With the other Australian import, prop Nick Blake, who has been coming into form, and with linchpin stand-off Chas Wood enjoying a good patch, everything looked good.
But then stalwart Rob Heath and hooker Dave Massey were declared not fit enough to play on the morning of the match and this clearly disrupted what would have been the strongest North-wich team of the season so far.
Additionally, eyebrows were raised at playing Dale at full-back and flanker James at centre.
The first half was over in a flash with each team performing well and with the home team looking stronger. Northwich mauled well but gave away more penalties than a disciplined side should do.
No points had been scored as the first half ticked into injury time before Alex Baker and Shaun Kay scored in quick succession for Wirral - a conversion giving them a 12-point lead.
Northwich hit back with their first play of the second half. James kicked ahead and was on the receiving end of a lucky bounce to score a spectacular try. Dale converted and there was time for North-wich to turn the tables on Wirral.
But they were undone by a crazy moment at a Northwich lineout deep in their own half. The ball was thrown over the top to Wirralian Paul Rawthorne who scored under the posts. Kay converted.
Northwich then ran out of steam and their heads dropped as they faced yet another humiliating defeat. Kay kicked a penalty and two further converted tries from Graham Phelan and Colin Davies rubbed salt into the Northwich wound.
Northwich are at Wigan on Saturday and Prenton in the Cheshire Cup on Sunday.
Other results: 2nds lost to Ruskin Park 47-13 (Graham Robinson, Will Oughtram tries; Steve Taylor pen); 3rds lost to Wilmslow 23-8 (Chris Burmah try; Pete Davies pen). The 2nds are at Bowdon, 3rds at Sale on Saturday. Preston Ladies 5 Northwich Ladies 50: Unbeaten Northwich stunned an experienced Preston.
They turned in their best performance so far and their disciplined scrumming and loose play was just too good for the home side.
They won a lot of turnover ball and the back line performed their duty well with eight tries in all, from Ellie Wyatt, captain Yvonne Bradley, Dawn Akrigg, Stephanie Carter and Sarah Lydon, with Carter converting five.
Northwich's early-season form suggests they are strong contenders for promotion to North Division One.
