For the first game of 2019 this Saturday, we travel to Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn in an attempt to avenge our defeat at Vauxhall’s last September. Then, in our second home game at Rivacre Road, we lost 7-24, but there was evidence to suggest we could survive at this level.

“The Burn” enter the New Year comfortably fourth, having won eight of their fourteen games. Incidentally, they played in the only draw in the division so far when they shared the spoils 32 -32 with Northwich last September.

In our last game against Burnage there were signs that Anselmians, after a period which produced one try in four games, were running into form. The forwards played as a unit and there were glimpses of the exciting back play that gained promotion last season.

Blackburn lost four games in a row from mid-October, but ominously for the Saints, they have won their last four games, most recently at Broughton Park, where the only score was a single converted try.

We have not visited Blackburn for many years and it is to be hoped that the New Year will produce a more focussed approach to our game. We have rarely played badly, but have been undone by avoidable mistakes. Let us hope that the break has allowed us to concentrate on playing the type of rugby in evidence towards the end of last season.