ALTRINCHAM Kersal first team got off to a bad start and never recovered as they ended 2016 on a losing note, going down 28-12 at home to Blackburn in North One West.

Kersal conceded inside five minutes to a crash ball from the Blackburn number six but rallied despite failing to make the most of their possession.

Credit has to go to the Blackburn defence, though, as they kept Kersal at bay for what seemed like an age.

It was 8-0 to Blackburn at the break and after the restart, Kersal again enjoyed more possession.

As always when Kersal and Blackburn meet it was a feisty affair with both teams being physical and the referee did well to control the inevitable clashes that went on throughout the game.

Kersal had three big opportunities when Blackburn went down to 14 men and finally capitalised in the 50th minute from a great try from inside centre Kashley Watkins.

From the restart Kersal were caught napping with a few simple hands, and Blackburn went round the hosts' defence to give themselves some breathing space again.

Kersal came back again through some individual brilliance from Jack Emerson who waltzed through the Blackburn defence.

From the restart Kersal pushed on once more, looking to turn it around, but it backfired with only a few minutes left to play. Kersal went for broke, playing from their 22, but a handling error from their backs and a kick through by the Blackburn winger meant the visitors grabbed another try to round off a slightly fortuitous win for the visitors.

Kersal thirds had a better day when they beat Hope Valley firsts 49-15.

The visitors arrived with 10 players, so Kersal had to quickly adapt their numbers and game plan.

Despite their lack of numbers, Hope Valley proved they would be no pushovers after their long journey, scoring two tries in quick succession within the first five minutes to give them a 10-0 lead.

A quick try response kicked Kersal back into action and they led 19-15 at half time.

Kersal’s teamwork and approach in the second half, ensuring play was not being forced so that basic errors were not made, along with their ability to keep rotating fresh legs on the pitch, began to pay off as the game went on.

Tries were scored by both forwards and backs who began to link together well.

To Hope Valley’s credit, despite an injury in the game, they never gave in and battled on until the end.

The club's under-13s also won on home soil in the last outing of the year, beating Bowdon 55-25.