Morley 16 Liverpool St Helens 6 LSH went to Morley with high hopes of achieving their first double of the season against the league's bottom club.

But a re-vitalised home team recently strengthened by former Wakefield players dashed their hopes with a gutsy display.

LSH significantly improved on their main recent weakness in the line out, and won their share of the ball, mainly because of the return of Martin Boyd, and they gained a slight advantage in the scrums - one against the head for Jon Hitchen, but in the loose, apart from an aggressive display by Dave Gaskell, which earned him a yellow card, the Yorkshire pack seemed hungrier for the ball.

Given 50 per cent of the ball, LSH can match most sides behind the scrum, but, strangely, Brian Wellens and Matt Liddell at half-back both had one of their few ineffectual days, and the backs, trying to play at 100 mph and ignoring the basics, were unimpressive. Mike Hitchen made some good breaks but lack of support nullified them.

Two penalties from Wellens was the only reply to Morleys two tries and two penalties.

On Saturday, January 17, league leaders London Welsh visit Moss Lane. A vastly improved effort will be required to avoid defeat.

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