Helsby 17 Flint 20

HAVING struggled with a shortage of players all season, Helsby found themselves spoilt for choice on Saturday as they hosted Flint in a friendly.

The hosts had 32 players to pick from – more than twice as many as they had for the previous week’s league game.

Helsby, who fielded a different line-up in each half, opened the scoring when Bob Merrill went over following some good work by the forwards with a rolling maul.

Mike Lawless converted the try.

Helsby then lost skipper Phil Arkell with a reoccurrence of his hip problems and he could not miss the remainder of the season.

Flint made good use of the strong wind and, after stealing a line-out, they went over for a try to make it 7-5 at the break.

Helsby, having changed their entire team for the second half, stretched their lead when man of the match Ryan McKibbin’s try made it 12-5.

Flint answered back with a drop goal before Helsby’s Keel Dunbar crossed for his team’s third try.

The conversion went wide and Flint then cut the gap to two points with a converted try of their own, making it 17-15. The Deesiders then snatched victory with a wonderful late try.

Helsby return to league action this Saturday with a home match against Knutsford.

This Saturday’s Christleton v Moore 2nds match has been postponed.