Sandal 22 Liverpool St Helens 34

AN outstanding first-half display was enough for LSH to secure victory against a determined Sandal side.

All the LSH scores came in a breathtaking spell in the first half when half-backs Cook and Worsley took complete control and orchestrated their team-mates with perfect precision.

After just six minutes a typical charge by the hard-working Tchakoute set the ball for Cook to feed Worsley. He in turn picked out Chris Walker who ran the ball home from 30 yards. Worsley converted.

Five minutes later Aussie Darren Crilly burst through to put newly-returned hooker Martin Keenaghan in the clear to score from 20 yards. Worsley converted.

Within minutes of the restart a promising Sandal move was intercepted in LSH territory by winger Dan Jones who then outpaced his pursuers to score a fine try. Worsley again converted and followed this with a 35-yard penalty.

On the half-hour mark LSH went further ahead with a trademark try from Sean Casey, the centre powering his way through from 40 yards out before side-stepping the full-back to score in the corner. Worsley again converted making it five out of five kicks.

Sandal provided a taste of things to come when number eight Dan Smith scrambled over for a try just before half time but there was still time for Worsley to drop a goal from 30 yards to extend the lead to 34-5.

After the break the Yorkshire outfit played like a different team, scoring three more tries through Smith and wingers Doherty and Howarth. Only one was converted leaving the score at 22-34 with ten minutes to go.

With the referee adding on a further nine minutes injury time the resolve of the young LSH defence was severely tested. But they stood firm and at the final whistle were good value for a win which moves them to sixth place in the National League Division Three North.