LIVERPOOL ST HELENS failed to begin the New Year with a win in a hard fought North One West encounter at Carlisle.

Carlisle produced two tries with LSH scoring three, with the home side benefiting from three kickable penalties.

LSH made a disastrous start when Simon Worsley was harshly penalised for a high tackle followed by a quickly taken kick finding Carlisle winger Barry Earl in space to run in and score, converted by Wightman who added a penalty in the 21st minute. LSH, continually driving forward, scored through Dave Westhead as all eight forwards plunged over the line before both sides added a penalty to make it 13-8 at half-time.

The Moss Laners levelled soon after the restart with a repeat of the first try, again with Westhead touching down, before Wightman edged the home side in front with a penalty with 25 minutes to go.

In a gripping last 10 minutes Carlisle were awarded a penalty try, converted to lead 23-13 and were then pegged back by a try from Ian Stanley sending LSH home with a well-earned bonus point.