Liverpool St Helens 3 Sedgley Park 49 DEPLETED LSH were brushed aside by a strong Park side which always seemed to have something extra in hand.
LSH started brightly, and were soon three points in the lead, following a penalty by Cumming, and followed this with a strong driving maul which Park were only just able to hold close to their line.
However, as the game settled down, a pattern emerged whereby the Sedley forwards drove strongly into the heart of the home defence before releasing their dangerous backs. Initially the handling by the backs was suspect but as this improved so chances were created and it came as no surprise when the visitors flanker scored a close range try.
The LSH scrummage was generally a match for the visitors in the tight but the absence of line out men through injury meant that they were unable to obtain a steady supply from this source, and were therefore on defence for the majority of the first half.
At 17-3 down at half time LSH were still in with a chance but all hopes disappeared shortly afterwards when weak tackling allowed a try for the visitors.
Facing a strong wind the LSH pack changed tactics and began a series of driving mauls and drives which gave them territorial advantage for lengthy periods, but they were unable to turn this pressure into points and in the last five minutes Park scored 17 points to complete a comprehensive victory.
Lupton, Waite and Topping worked hard in the pack, and Worsley showed well in his unaccustomed position of scrum half.
But in general LSH were exposed as having a lack of power and physical presence in key positions and ultimately they paid the price.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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