LSH set for historic ‘replay’ for 150th date

Dec 12 2007 by John Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

NEXT week LSH, the oldest rugby union club in the world, will commemorate its 150th anniversary.

On December 19, a group of young Merseyside boys and girls will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the club by re-enacting its historic first match.

The story goes, that in December 1857, as the Christmas holidays were approaching, a group of young Liverpool lads were bored and at a loose end.

One of them, Frank Albert Mather, a Merchant’s son living at Bootle Hall, had an idea. A scholar at Rugby School, he wrote to one of his school friends, Richard Sykes, who was the school captain, and invited him to bring his friends to play against a team from Liverpool.

Sykes, who lived in Manchester, accepted and the game took place on December 19 on the Liverpool Cricket Ground, then located at Spekefields in Wavertree.

It is reported that around 50 players took part in a game billed as ‘Rugby versus the World’ and there and then the Liverpool Rugby Football Club was formed.

The rest is history – Liverpool St Helens (LSH) Football Club history.

In 1986 the Liverpool club merged with St Helens Rugby Football Club and now play at Moss Lane, St Helens. LSH is the first club in the world to reach the 150 year landmark.

Next Wednesday, December 19, over 40 youngsters from 24 local primary and high schools – all of whom take part in the current LSH Junior and mini rugby development programme – will play a game under 1857 rules (20-a-side) wearing replica 1857 clothing, kindly produced by former Liverpool player and England International, Fran Cotton.

Former Liverpool and England international Kevin Simms will kick off the match. Kick-off is at 2pm on Wednesday at Moss Lane, Windle, St Helens For directions and details see www.liverpoolsthelensrugby.co.uk

Meanwhile Liverpool St Helens will be hoping to follow up a successful weekend for their second and third teams when resuming North One action at Penrith this Saturday.

The 2nd XV achieved a dramatic 12-8 victory at Whitchurch with Peter van Loo scoring the winning try in the last minute. The thirds beat Upper Eden 19-12 courtesy of a 60 metre try from Mike Walker.

No one at Moss Lane needs reminding of the huge importance of Saturday’s encounter. With four clubs, LSH, Darlington, Penrith and Altrincham Kersal adrift at the bottom it looks as though only one of this quartet will survive.

New signing Martin McGough had his first run out for LSH in the game at Whitchurch and Director of Rugby Paul Woodward is almost certain to introduce the ex-West Park man straight onto the wing.

Utility back Mike Hebden and flanker Alex Isherwood also impressed and both could feature. With Ollie Cashman suffering a broken wrist against Cleckheaton, scrum half Chris McRobert will be recalled to partner the influential Simon Worsley at half back.

Woodward dismissed LSH’s recent 52-15 win against the Cumbrians saying: “It means nothing. By all accounts they came with a weakened side to Moss Lane so we expect them to be stronger this time.

“However, if we play with the same spirit and determination then we could well go into the Christmas break one step ahead of the other three.”