PREMIER DIVISION
LAST year’s Division One champions WATERHEAD WARRIORS announced their bid to make a real impact in their first season in the top flight with a 36-18 opening-day home win over big guns ROCHDALE MAYFIELD.
The visitors began as most observers of the NCL might have expected, Jack Wright crossing in the fifth minute and Jordan Parr converting.
But Waterhead, completely unfazed, took the game to Mayfield to establish a twelve-point lead as the interval approached.
Matthew Holland nipped over on 32 minutes and, practically from the restart, Harry Barker followed suit.
Harrison Dodd continued the blitz, Kegan Brennan adding all three goals, but Mayfield were firmly back in contention at the break, thanks to Parr’s conversion of Mason Riley’s touchdown.
Indeed Mayfield looked likely winners when, shortly after the restart, Ben Metcalfe popped in, Parr restoring parity with his third goal.