Match Preview

Anselmians return to League action this Saturday after an encouraging cup performance against Cumbrian side, Aspatria. If the 1st XV can repeat the high tempo, running game that brightened up Malone Field last Saturday, Liverpool St. Helens will have a game on their hands.

LSH are currently second behind all –conquering Douglas and have only lost four times this campaign. They lost at home on the opening day of the season against the current league leaders and have been defeated by Bowdon, Manchester and, somewhat surprisingly, Sefton.

Not that a visit to Moss Lane bodes ill for Anselmians. Since the Moss Lane side were relegated from North One West in 2014 (the year Wirral won that division), we have remained undefeated at their place. About this time last year, we triumphed in a close contest, 21-15, and the previous season, in March, we gained an honourable draw, 34-34.
Notwithstanding such encouraging away form, we have had the opposite fortune at Eastham. In November 2014, we lost a winning lead and the game 31-33, and last season we were on the wrong end of a high-scoring, reverse 28-46.
Anselmian supporters will believe that there is genuine promise in their young and spirited side, but will be wondering how long they can maintain their challenge against one of the top sides in the division.