LANCASHIRE Wolverines’ first ever taste of Premiership play-off football ended in a heavy defeat as they were Blitzed in London.

The Blackburn-based team headed south to take on five time national champions London Blitz in the BAFANL quarter finals.

But despite slipping to a 53-6 defeat, Wolverines can be proud of their achievements this season and will be aiming to come back bigger and stronger in 2015.

The Wolverines knew they were up against it as Blitz have been in informidable form this season – which includes a year, including a 126-0 destruction of the Colchester Gladiators.

But to their credit, the Lancashire side refused to lie down, proving to be a defensive thorn in the side of the Blitz offensive unit and exchanging the ball with the opponents in the opening stages of the game.

The Londoners finally managed to move the ball in the first quarter, with running back Gary Welch doing the damage along with quarterback Timothee Liechti. And it was Welch who finished the drive with a short run for the score.

The Wolverine offence was moving the ball well but was unable to punch into the end zone, while the defence was continuing to excel before Chris Anderson returned a punt well to give Lancashire excellent field position.

But again the Blitz defence stood strong when required to do so, halting the Wolverines on their 2-yard line, before blocking the resulting field goal attempt.

Blitz continue to pile on the pressure and it was Liechti who finished it off, hitting receiver Tom Shennan for the score, bringing up a half time score line of 14-0.

The Blitz opened the second half as they ended the first, with running back Xavier Ajuwon breaking through the line and scampering all the way to the end zone for a score.

The point after attempt was blocked but with a 20-0 score line, the Wolverines knew they now had to leave defences open and chase the game.

The Blitz capitalised, with Shennan reeling in his second score along with receiving touchdowns from Ben Webb and Charlie Joseph after a freak interception where the ball bounced off a Wolverine shin, only for the Blitz to pick it out of the air in good position.

But the Wolverines wouldn’t let their heads drop. Fine running from Stuart Robinson, Chris Littler and Daniel Ledward, as well as runs from quarterback David Mead, opened up the passing game, allowing Mead to hit receivers Dave Barnett, Sam Bloomfield, Dom Hayhurst and Luc Kinder for good gains. It would be a Mead-Kinder connection that finished a good drive off, as the quarterback hit the receiver over the middle, who did well to muscle through a host of Blitz would-be tacklers to force himself over the line for a score.

Scores from Charlie Joseph and Xavier Ajuwon late in the tie rounded off a tough game, giving a final score line of 53-6 in favour of the London Blitz.

The score line was harsh on the Lancashire Wolverines, as it was not a 47-point game in terms of the quality on show.