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And so the day finally arrived where the LSH 3rd String would have to take the trip down the M6 to Northwich to take on the League Leaders. Beaten just once since September (by bottom of the league club Lymm surprisingly - but there is a significant amount more to that tale on the league website) and fresh off the back of delivering a 70 point hammering away at Warrington, LSH hopes were not high of an upset.

A break in the LSH 2nd team’s fixture list meant that the 3rd team committee was able to select from their full squad, and LSH were able to set off with a full complement.

Despite the numbers available, senior members of the squad were still aware that this would be a mammoth challenge and subsequently broke out the big guns in the pre-match preparations. LSH’s special war dance, saved for special occasions when the chips are really down and the occasional Summer Fete, was executed. The Ring a Ring a Roses was carried out with great gusto and much to the amusement of the supporters of both sides. NB. Final choreographical touches will be applied to the Chorus Line routine for next week’s game at midweek rehearsal.

Unfortunately, it was all to no avail. From the kick off, LSH were pinned in their own half facing a stiff wind and stiffer opposition, so to speak. Only scrambling defence from the visitors kept the game scoreless in the first ten minutes. Nevertheless, during this period, the big Northwich pack had established a level of superiority, bordering on dominance over the LSH 8, especially in the scrums. This was bound to tell and the home side were able to get 2 quick scores from 5 yard scrums to open up a 12 point lead.

2 further scores ensued, including a doubtful finish in the corner by the Northwich winger (could have changed the game that!) and when the half time whistle came, LSH found themselves slightly disheartened to be 24-0 down despite putting in one of their most committed displays of the season and a ten fold improvement on last week’s pitiful showing at Wirral

As usual, positive declarations were plentiful and at least LSH would have the benefit of the strong wind at their backs. However, the 2nd half began pretty much as the 1st had ended. Northwich were all over the visitors and crossed for an unconverted score 5 minutes after the break. This was a worrying development as a capitulation with 35 minutes to go could easily have led to another Caldy-esque hiding. However, a rare piece of possession for the visitors allowed the ball to go through the hands for the first and only time in the game and a midfield dummy from Henry the Younger, in the centre this week, allowed him to make a 50 yard break only to be hauled down a yard short of the line. The LSH support was hampered by illegal ball retention by the home defence and from the resultant penalty, a speculative long ball from Holland was picked up well on the bounce by Pickering who had sufficient room to squeeze his lithe frame in at the corner. The touchline conversion was made by Dillon and the scoreline read 29-7 to the league leaders.

The superior fitness levels became evident in the last ten minutes however and Northwich were able to cross for another two tries to finish strongly with the score at 41-7 but LSH should take a great deal of heart from this encounter against opposition who outclassed them in most departments.

Mentioned in Despatches (sic) this week are the Henry brothers who continue to display nothing but 100% commitment, whatever the score, and Gaffer Steve Hovvels gets a mention for his splendid impression of a land-anchor when introduced to the scrum in the 2nd half. (Surprising what an additional 10 stone will contribute.) However, all members of the squad stood up when they were required and pulled their tripes out to avoid a severe mauling.

So, despite the last ditch Ring a Roses prayer, LSH battle gallantly for 80 minutes but are ultimately outgunned by superior and better prepared* forces so it would be easy to pinch a closing quote from Zulu Dawn or The Alamo but LSH now must look forward to next week and the clichéd 8 pointer against relegation rivals Warrington. So we close with words from Lester Freamon of the Baltimore Police Department, “We gotta get back up on The Wire.”

Report by Edna Cloud.

Captain - Ben Holland - beardedtit@hotmail.co.uk         Vice Captain - John Dillon - jgdill2004@yahoo.co.uk