Liverpool St Helens safely secured the bonus point victory over Bowdon with another outstanding second half performance, to prompt immediate discussion of at least a play-off slot at the end of the season.

Not long after, horizons were drastically changed with news of Altrincham Kersal’s unexpected loss at Anselmians leaving LSH just six points behind the Cheshire club, with a game in hand and a mouth-watering clash in Altrincham to come.

The side that has lost only once since August are still in the hunt.

The loss of key players to ‘summer’ rugby league has undoubtedly weakened LSH, particularly in the backs, but it has given an opportunity to youngsters from the seconds to show what they can do.

Two of them, Sam Scott and Danny Webster, did precisely that in the first half at Bowden. Scott, making his debut on the right wing, scored the opening try in the 4th minute with his first touch when making no mistake and finishing off a fine move all along the back line to score in the right hand corner.

The home side levelled six minutes later with a try following a well-judged kick over the LSH defence before Webster, a man of many positions, and today wearing number 6, broke through in midfield thirty yards out, to score a fine try just to the right of the posts. Matt Cunliffe converted.

LSH took the game to Bowdon in the second half and their hard work and continued efforts were rewarded with five more tries.

This was a fine all round team performance with forwards Mark Devine and Mark Fryer particularly standing out.

Scrum half James Burrows notched the team’s third in the 49th minute, nipping over through a gap, following a sustained assault on the Bowdon line, converted by Cunliffe who then scored the all-important bonus point try soon after, bursting through to score following an excellent run from Jake Hodgson continued by John Pape.

As the game moved into the final ten minutes a strong LSH scrum enabled skipper Phil Kearns to get on the score sheet once again, followed before the finish by two tries from winger Jake Hodson.

His first try was a remarkable effort weaving in and out of the clutches of what seemed like the whole of the Bowdon team as he ran nearly 60 yards to score, converted by Cunliffe with his second try more conventional, in receipt of a pass from Burrows. Matt Cunliffe converted.

This week LSH play their rearranged game at Glossop. Kick off 3pm.