Match Preview

Today we welcome New Brighton who recorded their first win of the season last Saturday beating Manchester Medics 41-19 at Hartsfield. They have not had the best of starts, having lost the first four games, although they would point out that they have played four teams out of the top six. Trips to Broughton Park and Bowdon are never easy, although two home defeats by Leigh and Glossop are a cause for concern.

Anselmians, by contrast, have had their best start since 2011 and will be confident after the bonus point win last week at Sefton. However, they should be cautious. In January we lost 8-26 away and, exactly a year ago, we were comprehensively beaten at Malone Field 16-45.

We have to go back two years to find the last Anselmian victory over the Seasiders. In 2015-16 season we prevailed 36-27, but on the return fixture we contrived to lose in the last minutes 23-24 having led until the last five minutes.

Last season New Brighton finished 10th whilst we finished 11th. In 2015-16, we finished 6th and New Brighton were 7th and we can expect a close contest today.

New Brighton is another club with a long and distinguished history, who, like Liverpool St. Helens, West Park and Broughton Park, found adjustment to the professional era difficult. After some high profile difficulties, the club became and remains totally amateur, an admirable stance in these mercenary times.