AN 18-point haul from Dave Nicholson helped Walney Central begin life in the North West Men's League Division One with a 42-6 victory at home to Pilkington Recs A.

Nicholson ran in two tries and kicked five conversions at a muddy Central Drive, opening the scoring after just four minutes with a converted try following a run and offload from Jake Devereux.

It was Devereux's turn to get over the try-line five minutes later, finishing a move which was started by man of the match Matty Elliott and continued by Jamie Morrow, who provided the assist.

Morrow's show and go led to him bursting through the Pilkington defence and setting up Nicholson for his second try, and Walney's third, with a quarter of an hour on the clock.

The game then became scrappy as the pitch started to cut up in the wet weather, but a further two tries before half time saw Cents tighten their grip on proceedings.

Elliott's burst from dummy-half saw him get over the line and full-back Stu Tippet's score from an 80-metre carry after fielding a kick from the visitors on Walney's 20-metre line put the home side 30-0 up at the break.

Adam Ford, playing at centre, powered in from halfway to add Cents' sixth try of the match soon after play resumed.

But Pilks dominated the next 20 minutes as errors and penalties started to go against Walney, and five consecutive sets on the home line saw the defence eventually breached by the visitors' Jacob Cummins, with Rob Marsh adding the extras.

Walney regathered their composure after this though and ensure Pilks' converted try proved only a consolation.

A late double from Jonathon Corkill, the first crashing over from close range and the second coming after another Morrow break, put the seal on the win to make it the perfect start to the season for Cents.