FOR the second week running Liverpool St Helens beat both the opposition and the bad weather to register a win which keeps them on top of South Lancashire/Cheshire One.

Once again, despite the strong winds and the squally rain, both teams produced a highly watchable encounter keeping the Moss Lane faithful and those giving the Christmas shopping a miss, plenty to cheer and enjoy.

Not surprisingly the ball was kept mainly amongst the pack and it was a day when the LSH second row of Mark Potter and on this occasion Sam Molyneux, came to the fore. Potter, as all season, ran the lineout and Molyneux was involved in everything both in defence and attack.

Together they were the powerhouse in the scrum, which, after being severely tested by the visitors in the first half, completely dominated proceedings in the second.

The opening fifteen minutes saw Hoylake turning over possession from LSH on three occasions as well as successfully stopping two LSH attacks on their line.

Eventually however, a way through was found when, from good possession on the right, the ball was swung left finding Ian Stanley enabling the outside centre to burst through for the opening try.

Ten minutes later in the 27th minute the process was reversed with the ball passed right, along the back line for right winger Sam Scott to neatly touchdown for the second score.

This was followed by one of the loudest cheers of the day for Club Chairman Tommy Jackson, coming on as a substitute prop to make his first 1st XV appearance for quite sometime.

Hoylake responded well and launched a series of attacks all dealt with by the LSH defence until they were dealt a cruel blow from an attacking line out just yards from the LSH line.

The ever alert LSH Darren Wilson intercepted the ball and found himself twenty yards clear from the nearest Hoylake pursuer as he sprinted past the halfway line.

Throwing a few anxious glances backwards it was clear that the diminutive scrum half was rapidly running out of petrol just as his pursuer was gaining ground.

With Wilson’s stride getting shorter and the Hoylake player set to pounce, the LSH skipper gratefully fell over the line for the third try converted by Filson for a half time score of 17-0.

With the weather worsening in the second half and the Moss Lane lights proving their worth, the game slowed down although LSH continued to strive for the all-important fourth try.

Hoylake, for their part, fought hard and successfully preventing LSH from scoring. Eventually however the pressure told and in the 68th minute a neat move involving Wilson, Filson and Smith led to Jake Hodson squeezing in by the left hand corner flag.

LSH pressed home their win with a further try from Hodson, this time overlapping on the right wing to score Greg Smith converting.

This Saturday LSH travel to Glossop. 2.15.