Match Preview

After a hard fought defence of their unbeaten home record against a committed Sefton side last weekend, the 1st XV travel to Lancashire to face Southport.

In their nine games, the Waterloo Road outfit have won three, drawn one and lost five. They are currently 10th in North Two West, having spent the last two seasons in Lancashire/Cheshire 1 finishing 8th and 9th respectively.

Southport had a rude awakening to the realities of this new division when they lost the first game of the season at home to Eccles, 27-64. They improved quickly, drawing with Leigh 20-20 and recorded their first victory at home to Sefton 27-12. The highlights, so far, must surely be their narrow defeat of a resurgent Winnington Park, 33-31 and, last week, a visit to Cumbria where they won a close contest against Aspatria by a single point.

We last played each other in our promotion season. Those who travelled on that first day of the 2017-18 season will not forgot the thrilling comeback in Andy McKinney's first game as head coach. After being behind most of the game, we sneaked the victory, 19-20. The return fixture saw Anselmians win handsomely 58-29.

However, the previous season, the roles were reversed. In 2016-17, we lost away 16-26 away and were soundly thrashed at Malone Field 22-57, as we struggled against relegation to Lancashire/ Cheshire 2.

Games between to two sides are keenly contested and it is unlikely that this latest encounter will be any different. Saints will confident after their heroics against Sefton, but Southport have unbeaten in their last three home games. Saints will have to be at their best to secure victory.