Happy New Year to one and all.
In the first fixture of 2018 Anselmians welcome West Park to Malone Field. Last time the Saints played, they scored over eighty points, but that was five weeks ago! No-one expects a similar score this Saturday, but it would be an appropriate reminder of their progress if they could avenge their biggest defeat at “Red Rocks” last September.
We have not fared well against West Park in recent years. In their promotion season, 2015-16, we lost at “Red Rocks” 29-57 and at Malone Field we were defeated 14-27. Indeed, we have to go back to September 2014 to record our last victory. In a close game at Eastham we just shaded it 31-22.
We lost our third League game this term 32-52 back in September at “Red Rocks”, but, to put in perspective, this was a week before the Saints had beaten a good Tyldesley side at Eastham and a week later, we bounced back from this reverse by beating the then League leaders, Liverpool St. Helens, 49-19.
It is tempting to put the heavy defeat at West Park down to “a bad day at the office”, but the Saints will not be complacent and spectators can look forward to a fast, open and high scoring contest.