After the recent weeks of player availability, performances & results it was disappointing we could not get a similar team out against our rivals from St Helens who were just below us in the league table prior to KO, & a win for either side would see a points gap open up in the league table. Unfortunately for various reasons we seen 9 changers from last weeks team which competed & performed so well against 1x of the leagues promotion hopefuls. So with a few favours & lads stepping up from the lower team we put put together the best squad we could for the match.
Come KO time it was dark, wet & windy & the conditions were bound to effect the game. Prenton got off to our all to familiar slow start , conceding a try from a 5m scrum within the first 5 mins & again not long after to go down 14-0 in as many minutes. However the team/club has been becoming more resilient in recent weeks with much more of a fighting attitude & it was not long after that Prenton started to get back in the game, & for the next 20mins spent the whole time in the Newton 22 with wave after wave of attack, Newton defended well but due to the conditions once in your 22 it was very difficult to get out. So Prenton continued to pound the Newton line but as said many times previous we need to be a bit more creative in attack (anyone remember 2x passes or a slice?) as again & again it was 1 up runners trying bash through the Newton defence who to their credit stood firm but we are not moving the ball far away from the rucks mauls to find any gaps, Eric Cody slipping an inside ball to Lee Raff the only variation in play. So for all our hard work, territory & possession we only had 1x try from Glen Mitchell who pounced on a Newton dropped ball, & went under the sticks. Converted by James Gale to make the half time score 14-7 to Newton.
So after a terrible start we were now firmly in the game, & not long into the 2nd half Jordan slotted a penalty to close the gap to 4 points & game on. The next 20mins thou were about to cost Prenton dearly, as from the restart the ball was handed over to Newton on the edge of our 22. As said before the matchday conditions made it hard to get out of your 22 so after a period of gutsy defence Newton finally crossed for a score to stretch the lead & from the following restart we didnt kick the ball 10 so handed the ball instantly back to Newton who soon had us pinned in our 22 again & on the defence. As try as we did we could not keep them out & over they went again to pull away on the scoreboard, so with the instructions to go long from the restart to try & pin Newton tn their 22 & make them play out we went short again, didnt make 10 & handed the ball back to Newton who again soon after had Prenton pinned in our 22. Staved of ball & chasing the game Prenton tried to run the ball out from our try line but the ball was dropped & a Newton player was on hand to capatilize & score another try. So that 20 min spell killed the game for us, but credit to the team they kept on going & still wanted to get something out of the match & with some neat corner kicking soon had Newton trapped in their 22 & now for the remainder of the game pressure was on them to defend. Some good play by Gino seen him put Jordan in for a try, again converted by James Gale. A well deserved try to make the scored board look more respectable.
Final Score Newton le Willows 32 17 Prenton
Cheers for the boys stepping up done yourselves proud & everyone played to the end & gave it their all. On to next week & the final games of 2018!, 2x home games but only 1x chance to play, win, enjoy, wear you favourite xmas jumper & have a fabulous day/night at the club with your buddies so don't miss out & will see you there.

Matchday Squad
Terry B
Ant Morgo
Compo
Lee Raff
Chris Chapman
Ian Moore
Sam Johno
Jason TorrAnce
Glen Mitchell
Eric Cody
Ste Smith
Robbie Johno
Gino
James Gale
Jordan Anislie
Ste Bradford
Sean Asp