LIVERPOOL COLLEGIATE 21 LIVERPOOL ST HELENS 41

For only the second time in their history, LSH made the trip back to Liverpool Cricket Club, where it all began 162 years ago. At that time the cricketers were based in Edge Hill and it was there that Richard Sykes and Frank Albert Mather brought players together for the first ever Open game of Rugby Union.

On Saturday both sides produced an entertaining game worthy of both clubs heritage, with nine tries, played in a good spirit, due in part to excellent handling from a young referee.

Sam Walker opened the scoring for LSH in the seventh minute after a break from full back Alex McBride enabled the young winger to race over, McBride converting. 0-7. Collegiate immediately levelled after scoring to the right of the posts, 7-7 and although launching a number of pacy attacks failed to breach a determined and organised LSH defence for the rest of the half.  At the other end it was a different story with a McBride penalty 7-10 followed by two trademark tries from Darren Wilson. Collecting the ball from a clean line out close to the line, the skipper crashed though his tackler to score, followed by exactly the same manoeuvre a few minutes later when he saw off two tacklers. McBride converted both to give LSH a 7-24 lead.

Centre Josh Ganson extended the lead soon after the break with a neatly taken try to collect the bonus point, 7-29, before Collegiate hit back with a forwards try on the hour mark. 14-29. LSH responded to quell any thoughts of a fight back with two scores in two minutes. The first with a splendid solo effort from McBride, having his best game yet for the Moss Laners 14-34, and a hat-trick try from Wilson in the right hand corner. 14-41. The home side weren't finished and scored again just before the final whistle 21-41 falling just short of a bonus point which their performance deserved.

Team

15 McBride 14 Walker 13 Ganson 12 McClurg 11 Gibson M 10 Johnston 9 Wilson 1 Gore 2 Bonati 3 MacCauley 4 Royle P 5 Hall 6 Roberts 7 Thompson 8 Webster 16 Haywood 17 Jackson J 18 Potter

NOTE : LSH have no game for the next two weeks with the next outing on 26 October at Oldham.  

John Williams