LIVERPOOL ST HELENS 31 SEFTON 35

Where to begin? Liverpool St Helens somehow lost a game in which they had led for the full 80 minutes and with eight minutes to go had a 17 point lead. Moreover, after carefully building a 19-0 lead in the first half and apart from a brief spell either side of half time when the visitors scored two tries, they seemed to be in total control of the game.

Then, in the last eight minutes it all went horribly wrong for LSH as Sefton gleefully took full advantage of a slapdash LSH Performance as if they were sleepwalking their way to defeat. To their credit, Sefton had never given up whilst behind all game and they took full advantage of the opportunities when they came their way, scoring three converted tries in this final eight minutes.

The Faithful looked on from the stands and the Terraces in disbelief, as if the game was in slow motion as one score followed another.

The sequence began with LSH leading 31-14 and defending their own lineout on their own line. Sadly they went not just long but way past everyone until the ball landed with a surprised Sefton forward in splendid isolation at the back. The big lad simply caught it and moved one step to his left to touch down. Converted it was now 31-21. As the clock ran down towards full time with around two or three minutes to go Sefton gained possession inside their own half and proceeded to move the ball at pace to score their fourth try, converted, 31-28. With the Moss Laners now looking leg weary it was hard not to fear the worst as the restart went aimlessly towards a waiting catcher with every Sefton player looking ten feet tall and anxious to get hold of the ball and run it back. Run it back they did with barely a hand laid on the try scorer as he dodged and weaved through the defence to score under the posts, converted. 31-35.

LSH’s first half  tries had come from Chris Houlton, after a good break from Phil Kearns; Mark Potter after taking a quick tap penalty; and a good 50 yard effort from Alex McBride. Darren Wilson nipped over from short range in the second half with winger Dan Heslop scoring after racing onto a kick ahead from Matt Cunliffe.

Team

15 Cunliffe M 14 Heslop 13 Rawsthorne 12 Cunliffe D 11 McBride 10 Johnson 9 Kearns 1 Williamson 2 Houlton 3 Fryer 4 Donlevy 5 Gore 6 Royle P 7 Burrows 8 Potter 16 Heywood 17 Glynn 18 Wilson D

John Williams