This weekend, Anselmians travel to Sefton to try and build on the excellence of last Saturday’s exhilarating victory over league leaders, Liverpool St. Helen’s. Such was the confidence and surefooted nature of their second half play that Anselmians will be keenly anticipating this fixture.

Sefton have won two and lost two this season, but they have all been close affairs. Starting the season with a two point triumph over Broughton Park and beating Manchester Medics by one point last week, they have sandwiched a narrow home loss to Bowdon (20-25) and a ten point reverse at Leigh (15-25).

Sefton is one of Anselmians’ oldest fixtures and there are an alarming number of old boys of the school who have enjoyed significant careers there. Roddy Byrne and Gerry McBride, of course, are well-known at Malone Field and Jim Heeney, ex-Liverpool Society referee, is still running the line as well as people half his age. On a more sombre note, legendary Old Anselmian, Terry Moscrop, was playing for our third team at Sefton in January 1985 when he collapsed and died. For many years since, both sides have played for a shield to commemorate his passing.

Recent games between the sides have gone with home advantage. Last season, we lost at West Derby 0-17, but prevailed at Malone Field 32-25. The previous season we won 40-18 at home, but lost the return fixture 22-35, despite being 0-35 down at half-time.
Anselmians will obviously approach this game with a renewed sense of purpose but they will have to be at the top of their game if they are to upset recent historical patterns. Once again, a close, high-scoring game beckons.