Experience is the best teacher. The general consensus from Saturday's home match against Chester is that Lancaster played the better rugby, yet a glance at the league table that we tell we are still awaiting our first win.

After a shaky start, Lancaster stepped up several gears and overpowered the Chester Wolves, comfortably winning the second half and starving the visitors of possession for long periods of the game. We crossed the whitewash more times than our visitors, but inexplicably failed to ground the ball on three occasions, costing our team the 2 points on offer.

Frustrating? Yes. But to run a well drilled, experienced team such as Chester Wolves close in only our second match was a magnificent effort. The mood in the changing room after the match was far from despondent, and gives real hope for the rest of the season.

Andy Garnet showed the team what they missed whilst injured, bagging a brace of tries and going on to win the RK fitness man of the Match award on his Lancaster debut. Also scoring on his debut was Darren Clarke, a Cumbrian-based Irish International whose services we have recently acquired. Prop Dave McVernon used his class and experience to take advantage of the wet surface and slide under the defence for a well-taken try.

On a personal note, it was very gratifying to score the first try for Lancaster back at Giant Axe for nearly 100 years. Playing in front of a decent crowd really does make a difference, and on behalf of the team I would like to thank all those who came down to watch the action.