A BUSY Saturday afternoon at Moss Lane saw two close encounters; one in a very good cause and one too close for comfort.

In a curtain raiser to the main fixture, North West Ambulance Service paramedics from Cheshire and Merseyside took on a combined XV made up of paramedics from the Ambulance Service’s Manchester and Liverpool Hazardous Area Response (HART) teams. The closely fought contest was won 13-10 by the HART team and was played in aid of Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey Hospital. A collection was also taken during the 1st XV game.

Liverpool St Helens President Ray French was delighted with the afternoon’s events and is hopeful that the contest will become an annual fixture. “All of us really appreciate the work of the Ambulance and Emergency Services” he said, “We were delighted to help in such a good cause”.

LSH’s tussle with Wilmslow a few minutes later provided the LSH faithful with a few heart stopping moments of their own as the Moss Laners just managed a narrow win. This week LSH travel to fifth placed Leigh knowing that fellow title chasers Sandbach slipped up at Round Ash Park just three weeks ago and that another tough task lies ahead.