The Blackpool 1st XV didn’t have a game this week so all eyes were on the 2nd XV to see if they could get a result against a high flying Preston Grasshoppers 6 side in this Miller Homes 5N fixture.

The start of the game was delayed due to the late arrival of the Preston side due to an accident on the motorway on the way in to Blackpool.

When the game eventually started 25 minutes late both sides were going tit for tat at each other, the match being played in the mid field.

In the 5th minute Grasshoppers were awarded a penalty which was kicked to open up the scoring to 3–0 for the visitors.

Blackpool hit back and were awarded a penalty of their own in the 7th minute but, unfortunately, this was missed so the score remained at 3–0.

Again the game became very much even with both sides probing but failing to score.

In the 36th minute Grasshoppers managed to break the deadlock when they scored the only try of the match; this was converted to take the score to 10–0, the final score of the game.

In the second half Blackpool rang the changes but to no avail as the half petered out to a draw, neither side managing to score.

This was an entertaining game with the emphasis being on the approach play by both sides although neither side could really convert this into scoring opportunities.

Again, Blackpool showed their lack of finishing ability, a position that needs to be rectified with some haste if they are to progress in this and the 1st XV leagues.