Manchester 0 Liverpool St Helens 27 (From St Helens Star)

Manchester 0 Liverpool St Helens 27

9:06pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in Sport

LSH arrived in south east Manchester in buoyant mood after last weeks impressive victory over Leigh – however if they thought they were in for an easy afternoon against once mighty Manchester who are second from bottom,they were in for a shock!

LSH kicked off playing towards the cricket ground end on a cold, drizzly afternoon at Grove Park and had the better of the possession without creating any clear cut chances.

The game sprung into life after twelve minutes when winger Cunliffe passed to Neil Hull down the left flank but the winger dropped the ball before he could touch down for a try.

Then Manchester started to cut loose with a crossfield ball which nearly resulted in a try for their winger.

Another neat move involving Hull and Cunliffe should have resulted in a try down the left flank but once again the ball was spilled.

On twenty five minutes Manchester were awarded a penalty after LSHs Connor Cunliffe was sinbinned for being offside at the lineout – but Manchester’s McCartney failed to convert from about twenty yards out .

For some reason LSH appeared out of sorts and were finding it difficult to play their usual flowing rugby, until five minutes before the breakJake Hudson went over in the corner to make it 5 – 0, with the conversion missed by G Smith.

Whatever the LSH coaching staff said to the players at half time seemed to work, as LSH started really brightly and increased their lead after 42 minutes after Andrews broke forward and passed to Dave Cunliffe who went over in the corner to make the score 10 – 0, with the resulting conversion being missed. The LSH forwards were now beginning to dominate possession and try number three came for LSH with skilful play by Hudson who went over in the corner – again no conversion.

LSH were now in control of the game but after 68 minutes a rather unsavoury incident occurred in front of the Harry Kyle stand, which involved several players from either side trading punches with each other, for no apparent reason – not the sort of behaviour one wants to see on a rugby field!

Normal service was soon resumed after 70 minutes when LSH scored their fourth try and picked up another valuable bonus point, after good work again by Cunliffe set up Jamie Clare to go over in the corner.

Again the conversion was missed but in injury time with Manchester having a player sinbinned for offside, LSH grabbed their fifth try of the match, once again in the corner and this time the conversion was duly dispatched by G. Smith to make the final score Manchester 0 LSH 27.

Another good win for LSH which consolidates their position at the top of the league and their next match is at Moss Lane Saturday 16 March, kick off 3pm.