A DEPLETED Liverpool St Helens side were powerless to resist as they were swept aside 43-0 by strugglers Hoylake to put a serious dent in their promotion hopes.

With a lengthy injury list, no replacements and three forwards starting in the backs, it was always going to be a tough assignment for the visitors, and so it proved as Hoylake boosted their prospects of survival in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One.

It took just 12 minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock as a beautifully judged cross-field kick was collected by winger Joseph Lavin to score.

That effort was soon followed by another when slick play from a short line-out allowed Tom Corkhill in for a try converted by Stephen Young.

Just before the break, the LSH defence was breached again as Tom Billington broke away to score, with Young’s conversion taking the half-time score to 19-0.

The visitors started the second half brightly, dominating possession and territory for the first 20 minutes without finding the cutting edge to put points on the board.

A Young penalty and Lavin’s second try made them pay before Mark Fryer was sent to the sin bin for LSH, with injuries to first Jake Hodson and then Andrew Rawsthorne leaving them with effectively 13 men.

Hoylake showed no mercy and took full advantage of their opponents’ tiring legs by adding two more converted tries through Michael Webster and Liam Rushworth.

The result leaves LSH third in the table, two points behind rivals West Park ahead of this weekend’s clash with Glossop.

n The LSH annual BEERFEST takes place this weekend, starting on Friday evening and continuing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Lots of ales, lagers and food with live music including local band Stillia. All are welcome to go down to Moss Lane and have a taste.