Tried it earlier as well.
And yes, it is incredibly difficult.
I used the Long Hafted Blade. Its swings are so enormously slow and do no damage at all. I used 6 power stike and while going full speed with an Arabian Warhorse I did not one hit kill a lvl5 peasant wearing rags. In fact, I bumped him afterwards and he still did not die.
And swings glance most of the time, getting a glance-hit in works OKish, but getting a sweetspot hit in is terribly difficult. During about an hour of playing it, I probably got 2 sweetspot hits in. With 170 wpf.