LIVERPOOL St Helens face up to a massive clash this weekend when visiting Vale of Lune.
Having retained the top spot in North One West for the second week running they now travel to fourth-placed Vale to renew acquaintance with former LSH coach Paul Woodward and former players Gareth Tudor and Nick Royle.
This will be a real test for Martin Jones’ men, not least because only a hotly disputed try separated the sides earlier in the season, when the men from Lancaster returned home from Moss Lane with the points.
Since then Liverpool St Helens have won 10 out of 11 matches whilst Vale have had mixed fortunes but are only seven points behind LSH with a game in hand.
Jones was pleased just to get four winning points last Saturday against Wilmslow, knowing how dangerous the visitors can be and given the heavy and difficult conditions.
“I always thought we were in control” he said. “But we weren’t at our best. The boys will need to step up a gear for this Saturday and I don’t think they’ll need much motivating.”
The LSH director of rugby is well aware of the strength of the opposition.
“Vale have assembled a highly rated team with some good individuals “he said. “But we will simply concentrate on our own game, in our own style and do what we do well.”
It’s the same selection poser again for Jones and Phil Boulton this week as prop Josh Grant-Butler is set to return from his studies, Mark Wilcox is fit again and the experienced and influential pair of Phil Kearns and Dave Cunliffe are both back in the frame.
