Celebrations to begin

Nov 7 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

SOME 150 years ago this December, Liverpool lad Frank Albert Mather invited his friend Richard Sykes to bring some of his pals and a ball from Rugby School to play a game of rugby at Liverpool Cricket Club, then located in Spekefields, Wavertree.

This Saturday marks the start of Liverpool St Helens’ celebration of their 150th anniversary as the oldest open rugby club in the world.

A grand dinner at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool brings together members past and present together with guests from the world of rugby union including the main speaker Brian Williams, vice president of the RFU.

The current squad will be attending in force to relive the past history of the club. Everyone at Moss Lane hopes that Saturday evening’s toasts will follow on from a vital win against fellow strugglers Penrith.

Director of rugby Paul Woodward recognises the importance of celebrating the club’s past glories – but in the current climate he has wondered aloud whether Mather or Sykes were tight head props!

Although the LSH front row problems still remain he was, however, delighted with the pack’s performance against Huddersfield. “They really showed what they could do” he said. “Unfortunately we are still making errors and being punished and it is up to us to sort it out.”

Woodward is well aware of the massive significance of Saturday’s encounter knowing that LSH travel to Cumbria for the return game in just a month’s time.