Blackpool opened their campaign in North Lancs. 2 in the same way that they ended their season in North Lancs. 1, with a heavy defeat.

In Blackpool’s favour, because of injuries in pre season training last week and unavailability’s they travelled with only 14 players, a problem which they hope to overcome next week.

The Blackpool side opened the game by giving away a try in the 4th minute and the home side, Hawcoat Park (formerly BAE Barrow) never really looked back.

In the 15th minute with the score at 14 – 0, Alex Grieve of Blackpool tried a speculative drop goal; he missed the attempt and to cap it all, left shoulder and had to leave the field. This reduced the visitors to only 13 players from which they never recovered.

The home side continued with the pressure and went into the break 33–0 up.

Blackpool started the second half unconvincingly and gave away their first try of the half after only 1 minute.

Hawcoat Park carried on scoring at regular intervals and managed to amass 61 points before Blackpool eventually hit back.

At the 27-minute mark, after some good forward play, captain Baz Tucker, playing at number 8, stole across the Hawcoat line for Blackpool’s only score of the match.

Blackpool managed to limit Hawcoat Park to only one further converted try to take it to the final 68 – 5.

After the match, the referee praised the Blackpool side for travelling all that way with only 14 players.

He was impressed by the never say die attitude of the Blackpool players, never giving up the cause even though they were subject to a massive defeat.