With Anselmians’ five point win against Widnes and LSH’s home defeat 19-44 to champions Broughton Park, the gap between second and third has narrowed to one point. LSH have 84 points and can reach a maximum 89 with a five point win in their last game at sixth-placed Leigh. Saints can, theoretically, reach 98 points but, in reality. 90 is their goal. This means they have to win two out of three games to secure the play-off place, assuming that LSH will gain five points at Leigh, and that is by no means guaranteed. The points difference of seven in favour of LSH (232 to 225) is irrelevant.
However, a word of caution. “The best laid plans,”..etc. Glossop, in fourth place, can still come second and have three of their four remaining fixtures at Hargrave Hill. Given that both our games against them ended within two points, we should not underestimate their challenge. It is still a formidable task for Anselmians.
Of course, this is idle speculation and Saints will take each match on its merits, starting with the visit of Southport to Malone Field this weekend. Last September’s visit to start the season at Southport ended with an exciting victory, 20-19, and was an early indication of Saints’ newly found determination and resolve under pressure.
Southport are currently ninth, having won eight and lost fourteen games. Their last win, 32-17, was at home to Bowdon on St. Patrick’s Day, when we were scoring over a half a century at Tydesley. Since then, they have lost to Leigh and Glossop and, their most recent game saw them thrashed by Bowdon 5-73 in what was a spectacular revenge for the Cheshire side’s defeat on March 17th.
Saints, with their eyes on the prize, will be confident and must believe they can win, extend their unbeaten home record and take a giant step towards the play-offs. If they do, what better way to secure the play-off berth than by defeating worthy champions, Broughton Park, in the last home game of the season on 28th April?
You can’t script a better ending than that!