PADDY Royle’s try in the sixth minute of added time allowed Liverpool St Helens to snatch a 26-22 victory at Southport and close the gap on league leaders Broughton Park to just two points.

Royle plunged over to pinch a game in which second-placed LSH were trailing 12-0 early and 22-19 when the clock ticked over to 80 minutes to delight the travelling supporters.

The men from Moss Lane made a poor start, with Southport scoring two tries inside the first six minutes.

It took LSH until midway through the first half to respond, with Darren Wilson producing a darting run and his final pass sent young winger Connor Thompson over.

However, Southport added a penalty before the break as they took a 15-5 lead into half time.

LSH signalled their intent after the interval with a try to bring them right back into the game.

Left-winger Josh Lynch latched onto a clever kick from Wilson to fly over in the corner, with Matty Johnston’s touchline conversion bringing his side to within three points of the hosts.

The visitors went on to enjoy the majority of possession and territory and created plenty of chances, but they could not find a way through.

Having spent most of the second half on the back foot, Southport found a second win to score from close range and give themselves a 10-point lead in the 70th minute.

It looked as if LSH would struggle to pull the deficit back, but the comeback began when Alec McClurg broke through to touch down between the posts and he quickly converted the try himself.

That gave his side as much time as possible to bid for victory and, after Mark Fryer was adjudged to have been held up as he drove over from a lineout, Royle came up with his decisive intervention.

LSH welcome Tyldesley to Moss Lane on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.