LSH’s crucial Alty clash

Feb 27 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

AFTER a blank weekend Liverpool St Helens resume their bid to retain North One status on Saturday at Stelfox Avenue.

LSH beat the Altrincham club at Moss Lane earlier in the season but since then the two club’s fortunes have reversed with Altrincham, together with Darlington, four points ahead of LSH.

With five games to go the situation looks bleak for the Moss Laners but head coach Paul Woodward refuses to admit defeat.

“Four of the five remaining fixtures are very winnable,” he said. “Given that the trip up to Westoe may prove a challenge, we are clearly up against it because we have failed to win games mainly through our own mistakes.

“However after the win at Birkenhead and the terrific display at Sheffield no one should write us off just yet.”

LSH know however, that this Saturday’s encounter is crucial in their battle for survival. They will be without flanker Andrew Rigby, who played for 60 minutes with a broken collarbone in the defeat against Darlington only realising the extent of his injury after the game and Richie Bailey now out for the season with a leg injury.

With nothing left to lose Woodward is tempted to go for broke against Altrincham with the reintroduction of hooker Phil Battersby and winger Ray Doolan following long-term injuries and the call-up of veteran prop Tommy Jackson.

This season’s most influential player, Mark Dickinson, has recovered from a hand injury and is almost certain to return in the centre.