LSH 'in a dogfight' in the new year (From Warrington Guardian)

LSH 'in a dogfight' in the new year

THE words 'a happy new year' assume a major importance to everyone at Moss Lane this January as the club reflects upon a disappointing first half of the season in National Three (North).

Hopes were high after cup wins at Halifax and Chester and a league win over Kendal but were quickly dashed with a sequence of defeats by Tynedale, Darlington Mowden Park and Fylde.

Further wins over Darlington, Longton, Macclesfield and a draw against Blaydon provided LSH with the points that keep them in tenth position, just one point above the drop zone.

It is no coincidence that the heaviest defeat, at Tynedale, occurred the first time they played without influential prop Petrus Du Plessis who moved for National Division One rugby to Orrell.

Indeed LSH have struggled to fill the tight head prop position ever since and while everyone at Moss Lane would like to see the popular South African succeed, it is undeniable that his departure after the season had commenced, has caused major problems.

With tight head prop forwards as scarce as an English cricket victory Gary French has tried Jan Lourens, Lee Nevitt and Phil Hewitt and most recently gambled with young Simon Shorrott from Rotherham's Academy.

LSH officials have been in protracted negotiations with a number of overseas players for some time now and the word from Moss Lane is that they are hopeful of a signing in the very near future.

Alan Marsh's early season absence and his current injury; Anthony Sullivan's failed bid to return to Rugby Union; the unfortunate cruciate ligament damage suffered by Chris Evans; the back injury to skipper Steve Cook and the continued absence, through injury, of centre Mike Hitchen have all contributed to LSH's current predicament.

There have also been other disappointments. Notably the centre pairing of Alan Cross and Sean Casey, from whom so much was expected this season but have yet to rise to the standards that all at Moss Lane know them to be capable of.

On the plus side Jan Lourens has been in outstanding form; Dave Cunliffe ends 2003 as the Division's second leading try scorer;

Danny Collins is developing into a first class full back; new signings Dave Hale and Nick Royle have performed well;

Youngsters Rhys Brock, Mark Handley and Ian Pearce have all impressed and the side has at times played extraordinarily well particularly against Waterloo and in the first half against Halifax.

Liverpool St Helens is a club with a proud tradition and a universal reputation for fine hospitality. It has had its ups and downs.

Right now there has never been a more important time for everyone at Moss Lane to get behind the club and secure its position in the National League.

As coach Gary French put it: " We are in one heck of a dogfight now. We have to make sure we fight harder, bark louder and bite stronger than all the others."

John Williams