PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS RFC 34 v DMPRFC 0

Honours were even for 26 minutes until injury forced a re-shuffle in the DMPRFC back line, with winger Sean BROWN succumbing to an ankle injury. The disruption unsettled the visitors and a minute later, it allowed the home side to capitalise, scoring a try in the corner, with more than a hint of a forward pass (5 – 0).

DMPRFC tried to rally before oranges, but a breakaway try for Preston against the run of play on 38 minutes, scored in a similar position to their original success, severely dampened the hopes of a team who up until then had handled proceedings equally.

Shortly after the restart, another forced re-shuffle through injury, this time in the front row, was followed a minute later by another Preston score and it was starting to look like it wasn’t to be DMPRRFC’s day (15 – 0).

With key men in the home backline from the other professional code, the visiting backs came off second best, with only Chris PEACE and Sean BROWN before his injury, the prominent lights. But in flanker Luke WISHNOWSKY, DMPRFC had the forward of the day, producing a man of the match performance and overall in the forward battle, honours were fairly even.

Other injuries followed for DMPRFC and although they looked to fight back, Preston scored three more tries, two of which were converted (34 – 0) to kill off the game and further underline a ‘bad day at the office’ for the visitors.

Make no mistake, Preston Grasshoppers deserved their opening win at home, but DMPRFC would like to think that come the reverse fixture, things may be a little different.

Last season started in similar fashion, with a home loss to a team heralded as promotion contenders. Preston have been similarly discussed in the promotion stakes and if this is the case, then DMPRFC have gained a valuable insight into what is required to compete at this level and they learn fast.