FARNHAM Knights had a torrid start to life back in the Premier Division of British American football when they lost 42-6 to London Blitz.

But Blitz have been national champions five times in ten years and runners-up for the past three seasons, so the result was no great surprise.

Knights were showing a distinct improvement towards the end, but an even greater task faces them this weekend when they travel to London Warriors, the three-time national champions who have vanquished the Blitz in the last three finals.

The Warriors, who opened their defence with a 71-0 annihilation of South Wales Warriors, are possibly even stronger than last season with the return of Jerome Allen at quarterback.

Farnham head coach Steve Rains said: “We knew it was going to be tough, but we got better as the game progressed and the key now is to carry on from where we left off rather than going back to the start of the process.

“Warriors are the number one team and we have to go there and be ourselves rather than plan for damage limitation.”

Farnham Knights’ Laura Hill made a bit of history when she became the first female player to appear in the Premier Division. She is a member of the Great Britain Lions women’s team and has been part of the Knights’ offensive line squad for a year, playing in last season’s Division One championship side.

Against London Blitz, it was her blocking that enabled Knights to have the final word as Nick Roope scored with a 3yd run on the final play of the game, following a 37yd pass reception for senior debutant Harry Carter.

Two more women have now joined Northern Premier teams, but Laura Hill got in first with her appearance against the Blitz.