Match Preview

This Saturday we welcome Burnage in the first return match of the season.

Our visit to Parrs Wood Road in September was our second match in North One West and was very much a game of two halves. Burnage raced to a 20-0 lead at half time, and were winning 34-0 after an hour. However, a spirited revival in the last twenty minutes saw the Saints score three tries and, narrowly missing a bonus point, eventually lost 34-19.

Since that autumn meeting, Burnage have had mixed fortunes. They had won three of their first four games but, since then, have only won two. They have only lost two games at home, but have yet to win “on the road.”

Notable victories include Northwich and Stockport and they put over seventy points on luckless De La Salle three weeks ago. To put our recent performances in perspective, they lost at Birkenhead Park 10-43, but won at home against Warrington, 32-25, and, last week, they lost to Douglas, 10-17, but secured a bonus point.

They are currently 12th, one place above Anselmians, but a massive seventeen points to the good.

Anselmians’ supporters and players feel that they have competed in every game and that there is no lack of determination or effort. It is to be hoped that the elusive cutting edge emerges and Saints, at last, fulfil their obvious potential. Coach McKinney and his players will work hard to eradicate the errors that lost the game last week and, with all due respect, will hope to continue Burnage’s unenviable away record.