Match Preview

So, it's the first game of the South Lancashire Cheshire 1 programme and we visit newly promoted Southport.

I suppose Anselmians should be grateful to Wilmslow "Wolves" for eliminating our interest in the Cheshire Vase so efficiently, thus allowing us to concentrate on league matters. Nevertheless, as the Wilmslow match report points out, Anselmians "could have used some divine intervention from their patron, St. Anselm." Leaving aside the dubious claims to divinity by an eleventh century Christian philosopher, the ontological argument is irrefutable: we were battered by a side who scored twelve tries to two.
Southport made no such error. As we were haemorrhaging points at Fortress Eastham (sic), Southport were dispatching Wigan 34-13 in the Lancashire Plate.

Our visits to Waterloo Road in the 1970s, regardless of the result, were always followed by a visit to the fleshpots and estaminets of this picturesque town. The Saint has a particular fondness for a club called "Somewhere Else." It is probably a tanning salon or a tattoo parlour nowadays, but .........(Get on with it! Ed.)

Moving on, Southport had some great sides well into the eighties but, with the advent of league rugby they, like a lot of junior teams, faced difficult times. Now, they are back in some style, winning Merseyside West last season and being voted Lancashire Junior Club of the Year as recognition of their achievements. In addition, they have been nominated as one of six clubs for National Team of the Year at this year's National Rugby Awards which is held on Thursday 1st September.

With such momentum, organisation and success, Southport will be confident. Anselmians will be hoping that debutants, Matt Doolan, Harry Stables and Tyler Brace on the blind-side flank acquit themselves well. They also welcome Tom Gilbert on the bench and the long-awaited return of Jack Richards.

Let us hope that around 5 p.m. on Saturday, they and their supporters don't wish they were somewhere else.