LIVERPOOL St Helens maintained their 100 per cent record in South Lancashire/Cheshire One on Saturday showing plenty of character and determination to hold off an experienced and determined Northwich side.

The visitors made full use of their heavier pack and although LSH more than held their own in the lineout they came off second best in the scrum and in the exchanges at the breakdown, which, with an interesting interpretation from the man in charge, became an unedified scramble.

More than ever however this was a day when a number of youngsters, all former Colts, came of age.

Dan Webster, willingly fitting in wherever asked, found himself filling the sizeable boots of Phil Kearns at Number 8 and had a tremendous game, particularly in enabling useful possession from a scrum always in reverse gear.

Paddy Royle has made the second row position his own this season and once again had a powerful game as did front rower Tom Williamson whilst full back Sam Scott caught every high kick that came his way and showed a good turn of foot when needed.

Matty Johnston is still settling in to his pivotal role at stand-off but his finely judged pin-point pass enabling Dan Filson to score the bonus point fourth try shows what lies ahead.

LSH took an early lead when Dan Filson took advantage of a bouncing ball to kick ahead, collect and touch down before converting his own try.

LSH attacked again and won a penalty converted by Filson to take a 10-0 lead after seven minutes.

In an all-action encounter Northwich responded with a try from Sam Naylor after the LSH defence had been left standing, converted by Underhill. It was then that the Northwich pack showed what they were made of and after being held up a couple of times eventually registered their second try.

LSH responded with a try from Dan Webster after a good break from Andrew Rawsthorne was continued by Darren Wilson for the young number 8 to burst through and score converted by Filson.

Appropriately enough in an even first half Underhill slotted a penalty just before half time to level matters at 17-17.

The Moss Laners got the crucial next score four minutes after the break when lively scrum half Wilson took advantage of confusion after a line out to dart through to score from 30 yards converted by Filson.

LSH went further ahead on the hour mark when Filson raced through in receipt of Johnston’s pass again converted.

The visitors pack then pushed their way over again after 68 minutes to make it 31-22 before LSH scored again after a good drive from prop Billy Murphy led to Wilson somehow breaking through to register LSH’s fifth try also converted by Filson.

Just before full time Northwich pushed over for another pack try bafflingly upgraded to a penalty try, and followed this with a successful penalty 38-32 to go home with two points to LSH’s five.