Match Preview

This weekend, we welcome unbeaten league leaders Liverpool St. Helens to Malone Field. The club, in its first incarnation, was founded in 1857, which makes it “the oldest open club in the world”, according to some. Of course, there are other claimants to this prestigious by-line, notably Blackheath, but most agree that LSH deserve the honour.
In their long and distinguished history, they have produced many international players and, in the person of their President, they have one of the few players who have represented their country in both the League and Union codes.
Liverpool merged with St. Helen’s RUFC in 1986 and have played at Moss Lane for thirty years. Like many sides, they struggled in the professional era, and have been up and down the northern leagues.
They are currently in the ascendant, having finished a creditable fifth in this division last season. In their three wins this term, they have scored over 100 points, accounting for newly relegated Leigh (39-27), Bowdon (29-12) and, last week, Manchester Medics (36-12).
Last season we lost home and away, suffering a 12-38 reverse at Eastham and coming second at Moss Lane in December, 10-22. Since the Moss Lane side were relegated from North One West in 2014 (the year Wirral won that division), we had fared well at their place. In 2015-16, we triumphed in a close contest, 21-15, and the previous season, in March, we gained an honourable draw, 34-34.
Unfortunately, we have had the opposite fortune at Eastham. In November 2014, we lost a winning lead and the game 31-33, and in 2015, we were on the wrong end of a high-scoring, reverse 28-46.
Last week’s capitulation at West Park does not bode well, especially as it brought back memories of our poor early season form last year. This is a perfect opportunity for coach McKinney and his young side to show the fighting spirit they displayed in the opening game at Southport.