This weekend, Anselmians travel to West Park, St. Helen’s to try and extend their unbeaten start to the season. It will not be easy.
West Park began the season with a home defeat by Bowdon, losing 12-25, but quickly reversed their fortunes with a convincing 41-13 victory at Manchester Medics last week.
West Park, along with Leigh, were demoted from North One West at the end of last season, winning seven of their twenty-six games. They had been promoted the previous season, finishing second in South/Lancashire Cheshire 1 to champions Northwich.
West Park have a similar history to Anselmians. The club was established in 1947, like ourselves, although occasional matches had been played the previous season under the title "Catholic Grammar School Old Boys". They have a long and glorious history of providing scores of Lancashire county players and, in Martin Regan, the late, much-loved Head of P.E. at St. Anselm’s College, a bone fide England international.
We have not fared well against them in recent years. In their promotion season, 2015-16, we lost at “Red Rocks” 29-57 and at Malone Field we were defeated 14-27. Indeed, we have to go back to September 2014 to record our last victory. In a close game at Eastham we just shaded it 31-22.
This Anselmian side has shown considerable character thus far but this weekend’s encounter will be their sternest test yet.