Rugby Union: LSH 5, Darlington 8

Feb 18 2008 by Ian Hargraves, Liverpool Daily Post

SADLY, this narrow LSH defeat by one of the teams just above them in North 1, coupled with victories by the two others, has almost certainly condemned the world’s oldest open rugby union club to relegation.

And despite the innumerable memories of many fine performances over the last 50 years or so, the final result reflected the way the match went, with numerous basic errors stopping them seizing their half chances.

During most of their existence, both as a joint club and previously as an outstanding individual one, the men of St Michaels were always known for their fine work outside the scrum.

Even when they stopped paying their players, the back generally caught the eye, but on Saturday they were far less impressive with lots of play conducted almost at a standstill, and only wingers Martin McGeough and Ashley Stuart looking the part.

To be fair, they did not win very much good ball, due to determined play by the visiting pack, and two or three half chances went begging midway through the second half, when it really did look as though they might get back into the contest.

One splendid move involving star left winger McGeough, and finished off by right winger Ashley Stewart, brought them back to 8-5, and if they had not dropped a couple of passes at key moments, they might just have survived.

However, their only try came after a mere five minutes or so, when a promising move started by LSH full back Mike Hebden broke down, largely because he held on too long, and the visitors swarmed forward to put their right winter Tom Bivens over.

Full back Evan Haigh missed the conversion but did managed a penalty soon after, which was just enough to see Darlington through.

However, they still face a tough battle if they are also to avoid relegation, something made even more expensive for them by the number of overseas players they have paid to come over.

LSH: Hebden; Stuart, Worsfold, Foulkes, McGeough; Worsley, McRobert; Lourens, Houlton, Conway, Carter, Chadwick, Rigby, Cashman, Kearns. Replacements: Woodward, Tudor and Donnelly.