NEW BRIGHTON started this game on the offensive, pressurising Liverpool with two early attacks that failed to produce a score through poor handling.

Keeping up the pressure Dave Wood burst up field with a searing run which was stopped by a last-ditch tackle.

Their pressure however was eventually rewarded by an Anthony Birley penalty on four mins to make it 3-0.

Straight from the restart New Brighton were camped in LSH's 22 and still pressing hard, they must have crossed the line four or five times with driving mauls but never seemed to satisfy the referee that the ball was properly grounded.

It was a full 15 minutes before LSH cleared their line and that was only because a rampant Blues front row were deemed to have disrupted the scrum and the visitors relieved the pressure with a penalty kick.

There was no stopping the home team as they piled on the pressure, but that elusive try would still not come.

Once again after 20 minutes a penalty kick allowed LSH to clear their line.

Against the run of play, out of the blue on 24 mins the New Brighton fly-half Anthony Birley kicked the ball deep into LSH half.

Dan Cunliffe, Liverpool's No 11, fielded it and from deep in his own half cut his way through the Blues defence to set up a try scored by Sean Casey under the posts. Simon Worsley converted and it was 3-7.

It was virtually the first time LSH had been in the Blues half.

Clearly shaken by this turn of events the Blues came storming back again pinning the visitors in their own 22 and with 30 minutes on the clock the pressure eventually paid off as twice within five minutes they forced LSH to concede penalties, both converted by Anthony Birley to take them into a 9-7 lead.

Just as half time approached another desperate clearance by Liverpool was fielded by New Brighton's young full back Stephen Dean who courageously decided to run the ball straight back, at the visitors.

He was brought down with a great tackle and the ball was turned over. Suddenly LSH were away in broken play and amazingly there was Alan Cross ghosting through the Blues defence to score, conversion missed.

The home fans could hardly believe that the Blues started the second half trailing by three points after all the possession they had and despite Liverpool's two well worked tries the visitors were indeed a shade lucky to be ahead.

As the second half started it was again the Blues who were the driving force and keeping the ball tight in the forwards and away from the speedy LSH backs.

However despite all the possession again not much was happening at either end.

This game was now drifting end to end and the home fans were becoming agitated, as a home score would just not come.

The Liverpool defence was holding firm and another breakout was always a possibility.

The Blues had to do something and with 57 minutes gone Kelly and Clayton were replaced and Sewell and Davies came on.

This seemed to inject an urgency in the forwards as they upped the tempo with a series of quick rucks and driving mauls and they were rewarded when the long awaited breakthrough came on 65 minutes.

Chris Naylor crossed the line and this time the referee was happy with the touchdown. The conversion was missed but it was 14-12.

The game now reverted to a stalemate as both teams countered each other's thrusts and although play was now largely in the LSH half, there was no sign of a further possible score from either side until the 75th minute.

That was when the usually reliable Simon Worsley missed a relatively easy penalty chance.

After that the game just quietly drifted and although the Blues tried to increase their lead, time eventually ran out.

This was a game that the Blues dominated but like England against Wales failed to take advantage of all the hard-earned possession.

Even though the whole team played with a power and purpose LSH still managed to put the result in doubt until the very end thanks to the skill of their back division.

On Saturday November 15, New Brighton are at home to Darlington RFC, kick-off 2.45pm.