But although well beaten in their National 2 North debut by opponents fancied to win the title, and who ruthlessly exploited defensive lapses, there was certainly sufficient in their performance to inspire optimism.

Director of rugby Andy Howells declared: "We are on a very big learning curve, and one of the lessons we must heed is that if we make a mistake at this level, it is much more likely to be punished.

"But there were plenty of positives. We scummaged well, did well enough in the set pieces, and we matched Caldy for substantial periods.

"Once we have adapted to the step up in the pace of the game and understand better what is needed in this league, we will be okay."

One of those high notes was the skill and sharpness that twins James and Chris Clark have injected into the backs.

The Westoe defence was caught napping in just the third minute when a turn-over ball sent winger Andrew Soutar sprinting 30m down the blind side to score the first of his side's five tries – all converted by fly-half Richard Vasey.

Vasey and his opposite number Charlie Rayner scored a penalty apiece before the first quarter ended with a powerful 10m maul from a line-out which propelled lock Paul Arnold over the visitors' line.

Five minutes later, the home team's backs attacked slickly from halfway, the ball being spun finally to centre Scott Rawlings, who dodged a defender to touch down.

But the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen fought back with spirit, and shortly before half-time reduced the arrears with the best try of the game, when David Haswell sped from his own 22 to suddenly turn defence into attack.

He made good ground before deftly passing to fellow centre James Clark, whose whippet-like speed took him to within 15m of the Caldy try-line, where he off-loaded to brother Chris on the left wing, who finished the job at full tilt.

That made it 24-8 at the interval, shortly after which any victory hopes Westoe may still have nurtured were crushed when scrum-half Christian Saverimutto snatched a fumbled ball inside the 22 and set up Arnold to crash over.

Caldy were giving something of a master class in off-loading on the tackle, there invariably being a man to take the ball on, and a fine win was compounded shortly before the end when Arnold again broke through to complete his hat-trick.

The final flourish, however, belonged to Westoe. Rayner's long precision pass found replacement winger Graeme Haswell, who dodged and danced his way deep into Caldy territory before setting away Chris Clark, who was again too fast to be caught, the fly half's conversion making it seven points.

Afterwards, captain Gareth Nesbit said: "Caldy were well worth their win, but we did give away a couple of soft tries, which was very disappointing.

"We have all learned a lot from this first game, and we will now aim at improving our own contribution. There were plenty of pluses and we will get better and better."

* The Seconds got off to a fine start with an attacking display that brought them six tries and a 38-17 victory in their Candy League clash at Billingham.

Strong running by the backs was a feature, with tries scored by wingers James Walker (two) and Daniel Rundle, hooker Bob Lamb, flanker Hayden Richards and fly-half Chris Laycock, who also kicked four conversions.