Blackpool Stanley travelled to Clock Face Miners (St Helens) on Saturday for what was there first full league game of the season and what turned out to be a lesson in the art of rugby league.

The Miners first team, playing in the National Conference League, five divisions above Stanley, were away at Dewsbury Moor and the residual squad players made up the second team along with the best of last years under 18’s. The team proved too much for Stanley with an extra yard of pace and always a man backing up to pass to.

Stanley played well in patches but not enough to hold the superior opposition. The score rarely lies in rugby league and the score on Saturday tells its own story. As always Stanleys commitment was never found lacking and they played to the final whistle with no sign of the towel coming in at any point.

Stanley gave debuts to two of last years youth players, Jordan Hindley who showed some signs for the future in the centre and Daniel Stretton who entered the fray from the subs bench on the half hour.  Playing only his second game Nathan Winter did well on the wing at only 16 years of age and caped a solid performance with Stanleys only try of the game which came at the start of the second half after some good work from Lloyd Garrad and Graham McNish.

Stanley had lost captain Joe Connell and scrum half Ellis Woolstancroft to injury in the first half and any chance of establishing a pattern of play seemed to evaporate as the Miners class started to show.

Notable performances for Stanley came from Jack Connell in the second row and loose forward Jordan Fairlie both worked hard against the odds to the very end.

A lesson learned for Stanley and an idea of the standard they need to aspire to too reach the higher divisions, There’s no lack of spirit in the Stanley squad and I’m sure they’ll learn and improve from the experience. They’ll be back for more, Rugby League on the Fylde Coast wasn’t built in a day.

Training Monday at Unity 7pm, Wednesday Sports Centre 7:30pm.

Next Game Home to Blackbrook A NW Mens League, Kingscote Park K.O. 2:30pm. Saturday 25^th March 2017