LIVERPOOL St Helens put the previous week’s result at Northwich well behind them as they brought an end to West Park’s unbeaten record on Saturday, winning 10-0 at Moss Lane.

In heavy conditions and played in sporadic heavy rain and intermittent hailstones this was never going to be a game for the faint hearted.

An experienced LSH line up adapted readily to the conditions and were quick to play a brand of rugby which saw the ball rarely leaving the safety of their pack. Crucially they did so without making many, if any errors, protecting their possession as if the ball was a treasured item. West Park, playing a more expansive game, posed a significant threat when making darting bursts along the back line, but this was a day when the LSH defence proved equal to everything thrown at it.

LSH had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half which was evenly contested before they went ahead in the 29th minute with a try from number 8 Phil Kearns, picking up and touching down after a powerful scrum made its way over the West Park line. Dan Filson landed the conversion despite a strong and swirling wind to make it 7-0 which is how the score remained until half-time.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, although West Park, with the wind in their back saw more of the ball.

LSH benefitted from the return of skipper Darren Wilson, playing a crucial role in marshalling his troops as well as making some very handy sniping runs.

Phil Kearns and Jan Laurens brought all their craft and experience to bear and back rowers James Burrows and particularly young Sam Molyneux had big games. Midway through the half Filson landed another difficult kick, a penalty, to extend the lead to 10-0, to give LSH a bit of breathing space.

It proved sufficient as LSH cleverly managed to navigate the final ten minutes for the win that keeps them in touch at the top end of South Lancashire/Cheshire One.

As the players trudged off, indistinguishable from each other, the win probably meant more than most to LSH second row forward Mark Potter.

The supreme line-out man, an ever present since joining LSH a few years ago, was playing his last ever game, the need for an operation taking precedence.

The Moss Laners will miss him.