NEWLY-APPOINTED Blackwood player-coach Matthew Hutchence says he's looking forward to the challenge of turning matters around following another hefty defeat, writes Terry Daley.

While Pontypool's away SWALEC Cup, round-one tie at Bedwas was postponed and Newbridge sat out a bye, Blackwood slipped out of the tournament as a result of being beaten 48-14 at home by Llanharan.

The outcome came just seven days after Blackwood had been overwhelmed 86-0 in north Wales by RGC 1404 and just two months after they had beaten fellow-Championship strugglers Llanharan 35-29 at home.

Following that massacre against RGC 1404, director-of-rugby Nigel Way, head coach Matthew Veater, backs guru Gareth Williams plus fitness and scrum boss Brendan Fisher all stood down from their positions.

Hutchence, 28, was named as player-coach and stepped in against Llanharan for his campaign debut after he has dislocated his shoulder in pre-season - although it was as a full back and not in his normal scrum-half role.

He couldn't, however, influence the game as Blackwood were always on the back foot from the moment second-row forward Mike Preece was sent off as early as the fifth minute with Llanharan, who are rock bottom of the Championship table, taking full advantage in crossing for no less than eight tries.

Blackwood, just seven points and three places better off than Llanharan, did their level best to make a contest of it before the break when they trailed by only 26-14.

At that stage, they'd scored tries via centre Adam Tetley and outside half James Dowley, who converted both, and it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Blackwood has scored next.

But it wasn't to be as Llanharan kept their foot on the gas to score 22 unanswered points during the second period and one of their five-pointers was a penalty try.

"There's no doubt the sending off had a great bearing on the outcome and it had James Dowley not struck a post with a penalty soon after half time, then matters may well have been different, remarked Hutchence.

"That would have put us back into contention at just 26-17 down, but being a player short told on us in the end and Llanharan were worthy winners.

"As far as my personnel circumstances are concerned, well I suppose I was looking forward to getting into coaching - but it in my latter years!

"However the opportunity is now here and I am certainly looking forward to the challenge of taking the club upwards."

Hutchence's troops are in home action again on Saturday, when they entertain Swansea with a view of improving on a 71-0 Championship drubbing they received at the hands of the west Walians at St. Helens earlier this season.

Pontypool's re-arranged SWALEC Cup clash at Bedwas on Saturday replaces their scheduled home fixture against Llanharan.