Sedgley Park 43 Liverpool St Helens13

THIS was a brave performance by a depleted LSH side, against one of the hardest and strongest sides in Division Three North.

Their cause wasn't helped when stand-off Simon Worsely reported for the bus with heavy flu symptoms, but despite this he took the number 10 jersey, epitomising the battling spirit all around Moss Lane this season.

The Manchester side immediately signalled their intentions attacking through the middle straight from the start. The tactic paid off after just six minutes when Kiwi full-back Rob Moon weaved his way through the LSH defence to score under the posts, which he then converted.

In driving rain LSH settled to their task and adventurous attacking play brought two penalties, both converted by Worsley. The score remained at 7-6 for more than 30 minutes during which time the LSH backs repelled numerous attacks helped by ferocious tackling from Darren Crilly and Cameroon-born Njike Tchakoute who improves with every game and is becoming a major force in LSH's season.

But it was only a matter of time before the defence would be breached and just before half-time former Orrell centre Alun Peacock raced through for the second try of the afternoon, also converted by Moon, to make the half-time score 14-6.

The first half's efforts had clearly taken their toll of LSH and within minutes of the restart centre Simon O'Hara charged through for try number three. Failures at the line-out and the sin-binning of Steve O'Keefe hampered the LSH effort and the home side ran in two more tries, including one from the impressive Rumanian International Cris Raducanu.

The visitors' perseverance was eventually rewarded when skipper Steve Cook nipped in for a try following a smartly-taken free-kick. But Sedgley Park ran in another try from replacement prop Chris Kinsey to emphasise their physical dominance and seal a deserved victory.

Morley are the visitors this week to Moss Lane on Saturday, December 23, kick-off 2.30pm when LSH will seek to make amends for defeat at the hands of the Yorkshire side earlier this month.