Match Preview

2.15pm Saturday (22nd) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2nd vs 3rd – They don’t get much tougher than this, as with top Stockport thrashing previous third place Manchester (who would not have had travel issues) 31v0 last weekend, this is the currently “best of the rest”.

Only six losses combined from twenty-eight games (ignoring the two walk over victories), including both losses against Stockport and ours at Waterloo. Waterloo’s only loss at home is against Stockport, whilst Broughton Park, are the only team other than us to have deprived them of full points at home. Away they have lost at Glossop (6th); Birkenhead Park (7th) and Penrith (5th), all of whom have excellent home records (two of whom we are yet to visit). Their away wins coming at Altrincham Kersal, Douglas, and Bowden.

As often mentioned, if we had taken any one of a number of chances in the second half at Waterloo, we would have won. Easily forgotten is if they had taken their chances in the first half, they may have been out of sight at half time.

So the team will need to be at their best to continue their excellent run, with both teams unbeaten since the end of November.

TEAM : Two change. Liam Hayton and Matt Houghton are out, but Greg Wrathall makes a swifter than feared return, and Ben Leacock comes into the second row. Hugh Davies and Dan Lowther join Dane Blenkharn on the bench

WEATHER : Cloudy but (hopefully) dry

If you cannot get down, there will be no early report (I am not on the train), but I suspect Craig will have the scores up as they happen, and a full report should be up later in the evening.

For those who are there this will also mean the Man of the Match, vote will be up a little later than normal - Gives you more time to select who to vote for.